For Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, football is more than tackles and interceptions. It’s a show of strength. Following a near-fatal cardiac arrest on the field during a 2023 game, all wondered if he’d ever return to the field. Not only did he return in glory, but he also cemented his career with a new contract to remain in Buffalo. As we move into the 2025 season, Hamlin’s narrative is as much one of individual triumph as it is one of economic security. Let’s dissect Damar Hamlin’s net worth, salary today, and earnings throughout his illustrious NFL career.

What is Damar Hamlin’s Net Worth?

As of 2025, Damar Hamlin’s net worth is around $4.29 million. He has primarily earned this fortune from his NFL deals and performance bonuses as a drafted player in 2021.

His financial situation is an indication of his consistent career advancement. Much of his net value was established in his rookie contract, estimated at $3.64 million. His net value is a sum that marks not only his worth on the playing field but also his remarkable recovery from a severe health crisis, enabling him to continue accumulating wealth.

Damar Hamlin’s Contract

Following the end of his rookie contract, Damar Hamlin went through free agency but returned to the drafting team. In March 2025, he agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. The new contract is entirely guaranteed, providing Hamlin with considerable financial stability for the season. 

This deal is a huge increase over his past pay and is proof of the Bills’ faith in him as a quality depth specialist with starting experience. The terms of the deal are a base pay of $1,832,500 and a signing bonus of $167,500. The following table lays out the essential details of his 2025 contract. 

What is Damar Hamlin’s Salary?

For the 2025 NFL season, Damar Hamlin will receive a base salary of $1,832,500. This figure is guaranteed in full under his one-year contract.

His overall cash compensation for the year is $2,008,505 in his base salary, a signing bonus of $167,500, and a $8,505 workout bonus. Against the cap in the league, his hit for the Buffalo Bills is the manageable $1,337,500, which represents only 0.48% of the team’s overall cap space. His salary is a considerable hike from his pay in 2024 and indicates his higher standing on the team.

Damar Hamlin’s Career Earnings

As of the 2025 season, Damar Hamlin’s career salary from NFL deals will be a phenomenal $7.07 million. It is the culmination of a smooth financial rise year by year, starting in his debut year in 2021 when he had earned $820,476. His earnings made a remarkable leap in 2022 to $1,477,470, supported by a $652,470 performance bonus, followed by $940,000 in salary for 2023 and $1,055,000 for 2024. The cornerstone of his career earnings was the four-year, $3.64 million rookie contract in 2021. His new $2,008,505 one-year contract for 2025 is the next installment of his monetary evolution and takes his aggregate earnings to their lofty figure.

Damar Hamlin’s College and Professional Career

Well before his name became household across America, Damar Hamlin was an exceptional football player in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a first-team All-State at Central Catholic High School, and played college football for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. He was a team captain who was a leading figure in the Panthers’ secondary, given All-ACC second-team recognition as a senior after registering a team-best 66 tackles.

The Buffalo Bills drafted Hamlin in the sixth round (212th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was a reserve player in his first season, but started in 2022 when teammate Micah Hyde got hurt, with 88 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 15 games. 

Hamlin’s career and life were turned upside down on January 2, 2023, when he experienced a cardiac arrest following the tackle on Monday Night Football. The incident, triggered by the uncommon commotio cordis condition, placed him in critical condition. His life was nothing less than miraculous in its recovery. He went on to look back at the trauma and said, “They almost lost me. I died on national TV.“. That right there is just the biggest blessing of it all. For me to still have my people and for my people to still have me”. After being cleared to play in April 2023, Hamlin returned to the field that same season, a testament to his incredible determination.  He battled his way back and played 14 games for the Bills during the 2024 season, establishing himself again in the league.

Damar Hamlin’s Brand Endorsements

Off the field, Damar Hamlin has used his platform and motivational story to obtain a number of brand endorsements and venture into business. His appeal skyrocketed following his highly publicized recovery, which resulted in deals with top brands. He has been a brand ambassador for Abbott and its HeartMates program, positions that closely mirror his own individual advocacy of heart health and CPR awareness. He has also been linked to events for the Dolce & Gabbana luxury fashion house.

His most personal business venture is probably his apparel company, Chasing Millions, which he began as a “Plan B” while in college. The business is an extension of his entrepreneurial spirit and gives him a creative outlet and business platform for his life after football. With all these ventures, Hamlin created a brand far beyond that of a football player.

The path of Damar Hamlin is an inspiring story of athletic and economic determination. From being a sixth-round draft choice to a man who came face-to-face with mortality on the field, he has battled for every snap and every penny. With a net value of $4.29 million and career earnings in excess of $7 million, his economic accomplishment is as fought for as his roster position. Entering the 2025 season on a new, fully guaranteed $2 million deal with the Buffalo Bills, Hamlin has established himself in the league not as a tragic figure, but as a professional football player who earned his paycheck through sheer grit. His tale remains an inspiration, demonstrating that heart and will can triumph over even the most formidable adversity.