Damar Hamlin returned to his roots Sunday, hosting a youth football combine at F.N.B. Stadium for 150 local children as part of a weekend of football festivities in Pittsburgh that included the NFL Draft.
Sunday’s free event, organized through Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation and sponsored by Allegheny Health Network, gave boys and girls ages 8 to 14 a chance to step onto the field and experience a combine-style workout.
“Football fans from around the world have descended on Pittsburgh,” said Hamlin, the McKees Rocks native who played his college football at Pitt and now plays for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
“It’s important to me to make sure that Pittsburgh youth get a chance to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. That’s why I’m proud and excited to host a special youth combine for 150 young Pittsburgh athletes.”
Participants rotated through stations designed to test speed, agility and football fundamentals, including the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, cone drills and skills work focused on throwing, catching and footwork.
Beyond competition, organizers emphasized safety and education. The event featured a CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) awareness session led by AHN staff, aligning with the mission of Hamlin’s foundation.
“Events like this bring together two things we care deeply about at Allegheny Health Network — keeping young athletes healthy and making sure communities are prepared when emergencies happen,” said Patrick J. DeMeo, chair of orthopaedic surgery at AHN.
“Partnering with the Chasing M’s Foundation and having leaders like Damar Hamlin on-site helps reinforce the importance of proper training, access to life-saving tools like AEDs, and education around cardiac safety.”
Support for the event also came from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation through its Sports Matter program, which aims to expand access to youth athletics and address funding barriers.
Hamlin’s charity is dedicated to the development, health and safety of youth through sports, engagement activities, training and programming. Since experiencing cardiac arrest on Jan. 2, 2023, Hamlin has been dedicated to increasing awareness of the need for access to AEDs to save lives, creating legislative change and providing CPR education.
Working with the NFL Smart Heart Coalition and American Heart Association, Hamlin advocated for the HEARTS ACT, which was signed into law on Dec. 25, 2024. This law helps to protect children through grants for schools to secure AEDs, create emergency action plans to support their use and teach lifesaving CPR skills.
Be First to Comment