NFL Draft Sets CPR Record: 1,293 Trained in One Hour

The man who came back from the brink of death is now teaching others how to save lives, and he just made history doing it.

Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who suffered cardiac arrest during a 2023 game, joined forces with the NFL and American Heart Association to shatter a Guinness World Record. On April 24, 2026, during the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, they trained 1,293 people in CPR in just 60 minutes at Acrisure Stadium.

The record happened in Hamlin's hometown, making the achievement deeply personal. "As my experience with cardiac arrest has shown, CPR really does save lives," Hamlin said. "To see my hometown come together to set this record and learn this skill is incredibly meaningful."

Hamlin's journey started on January 2, 2023, when he collided with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins during a game. The impact caused commotio cordis, stopping his heart on the field. Bills athletic trainer Denny Kellington performed immediate CPR, a decision doctors credit with saving Hamlin's life.

The 28-year-old safety spent about a week in critical condition before making a remarkable recovery. Now in his sixth NFL season, he's turned his second chance into a mission to spread CPR knowledge.

The Ripple Effect

The numbers tell a sobering story that makes this record so crucial. More than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside hospitals every year in America. Only 10% survive, and the reason is heartbreaking: most bystanders don't know CPR.

But here's where hope enters the picture. According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival. That means the 1,293 people trained during the draft now have the power to save lives in their own communities.

Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, captured the impact perfectly. "This record-setting moment is about more than a number. It represents nearly 1,300 people who are now prepared to step in and help save a life."

Each of those newly trained individuals could be the difference between life and death for someone's parent, child, or friend. They could be the Denny Kellington in someone else's story.

Hamlin's transformation from cardiac arrest survivor to world record holder shows how tragedy can spark powerful change when someone chooses to turn their pain into purpose.