Bills face a familiar hero who helped save Damar Hamlin's life

The athletic trainer who helped restart Damar Hamlin’s heart has started a new mission.

Danny Kellington is now the vice president of player health and performance for the Carolina Panthers, and on Sunday, he’ll be on the opposite sideline as the Buffalo Bills visit Carolina on Sunday.

Kellington joined the Panthers' front office in February after eight seasons with the Bills, where he rose from assistant athletic trainer to associate athletic trainer in 2023. In his new role, he oversees Carolina’s training, strength and conditioning, nutrition, and sports science departments.

Denny Kellington helped save Damar Hamlin's life

Kellington became known far beyond Buffalo on Jan. 2, 2023, when Hamlin collapsed from cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati.

Kellington was one of the first medical staffers to reach Hamlin and began CPR within seconds, helping restore his heartbeat with an AED before the safety was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Doctors later said that rapid response saved not just Hamlin’s life but also preserved his brain function. Bills coach Sean McDermott called Kellington a “real hero” whose courage “saved Damar’s life.”

"I owe Denny my life. Literally," Hamlin said on Good Morning America. "He loves to say he was just doing his job. That night, he was literally the savior of my life, you know, administering CPR on me."

The Bills’ training staff, including Kellington, received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2023 ESPYs, presented by Hamlin in an emotional onstage reunion. NFL reporter Suzy Kolber even awarded Kellington a fifth-place vote for NFL MVP that year.

A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Kellington spent 12 years at Syracuse University before joining the Bills in 2017. He gave the 2023 commencement speech at Oklahoma State, his alma mater, reflecting on leadership and being ready under pressure.

Kellington doesn't seek the spotlight for his role in saving Hamlin's life, often deflecting praise to the larger medical team. “I’ve trained for this for 20-some-odd years,” he said. “We all acted as a strong team and came together to render care to our player.”

He continues to speak about the importance of emergency preparedness and access to AEDs, especially for youth sports.

“There are so many kids in underserved communities that don’t even have access to an AED on the fields,” Kellington said. “Those are the things I like to highlight.”

A reunion that transcends football

Hamlin returned to the field the following season, appearing in five games in 2023. He earned a starting safety role in 2024 and finishing the season with 89 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in 14 games. He played hte first five games this year before being placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury.

Kellington’s role now keeps him behind the scenes, but his impact remains a defining part of one of the most emotional moments in NFL history.

When the Bills and Panthers meet Sunday, the reunion will be a reminder of the life-saving bond that helped inspire one of football’s most powerful stories.