NFL Draft to Host CPR Training World Record Attempt

Thousands of football fans will get the chance to become lifesavers during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

The American Heart Association and Bills safety Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's Foundation are teaming up for a Guinness World Record attempt. They plan to train at least 4,000 people in hands-only CPR during a single hour on Friday at Acrisure Stadium.

The training session runs from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., giving anyone who attends the skills to potentially save a life. Learning CPR takes just minutes but can double or even triple someone's chance of surviving cardiac arrest.

Hamlin knows this truth better than most. On January 2, 2023, the McKees Rocks native collapsed on the field during a game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Quick action from medical staff using CPR saved his life that night.

Since his recovery, Hamlin has dedicated himself to making sure more people know how to respond when someone's heart stops. His foundation partners with communities across the country to expand CPR training and access to life-saving equipment.

The Ripple Effect

This world record attempt does more than break a number. Every person trained becomes a potential lifesaver in their family, workplace, or community.

Cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. Most cases happen outside hospitals, where bystander CPR makes the difference between life and death. Yet only about 40% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital receive CPR before professional help arrives.

The Pittsburgh event turns a celebration of football into a massive public health moment. Fans coming together for the NFL Draft will leave with skills that could save their neighbor, coworker, or loved one.

Hamlin's story transformed from tragedy to triumph, and now he's helping write similar happy endings for others.