Last year, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went through an extremely traumatic event when he required life-saving CPR after he went into cardiac arrest on the field following a hit during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. When he returned to football this year, many assumed he would be a lock to win the league’s Comeback Player of the Year Award, but in a pretty shocking turn of events, that’s not what happened.
As Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk explains, Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco was named the league’s Comeback Player of the Year even though Damar Hamlin actually got more first-place votes.
“Despite receiving the most first-place votes, Hamlin was beaten out by Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco received the most total points from the 50 voters, who listed three choices on their ballot,” Williams wrote for Pro Football Talk.
“Flacco had 13 first-place votes and 151 total points, while Hamlin received 21 first-place votes and 140 points. Eight voters left Hamlin completely off their ballot.”
Hamlin only played 17 defensive snaps this season and 94 on special teams, appearing in just five games throughout the season, which is likely the reason why he did not win the award. But it’s still pretty brutal news for Hamlin after he returned to action after quite literally dying on the field.
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