Bills make major Damar Hamlin contract decision for 2026 NFL season

The Buffalo Bills and Damar Hamlin had the chance to split up this offseason.

The high-profile safety was a free agent, and he could've signed with any team in the NFL.

In the end, he's staying put.

The Bills announced on Friday that Hamlin has agreed to a one-year contract to return to Buffalo.

Bills re-signed S Damar Hamlin to a one-year deal. pic.twitter.com/H8uiffWgwr

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It's a move that most fans will feel good about.

He of course is known for so much more than his play on the field with the Bills. His scary collapse on the field while playing for Buffalo in a primetime game against the Bengals captured the nation's attention.

Hamlin's story was an inspirational one as he worked his way back not just to full health but also back into NFL game action.

Hamlin, who will turn 28 years old on March 24, was originally a sixth-round pick of the Bills in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Pitt.

By 2022, he was a full-time player, recording 93 tackles before his scary moment.

He played five games in 2023, but it was in 2024 when Hamlin returned to a big role, playing in 14 games, recording 89 tackles and picking off two passes.

Injuries and a shift in the depth chart (Cole Bishop into the starting lineup) meant Hamlin got just five games played in 2025 with just a single tackle.

At this point, Hamlin may not be a leading piece. But he's a guy who has value to the organization, and the Bills are keeping him around.

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