Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

‘Rigged’: Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin Winning PWFA Comeback Player Of The Year Has NFL Fans Upset

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated 1/26/24

Many NFL fans were upset Friday afternoon when it was announced Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Comeback Player of the Year award. The AP award has not yet been given out, but usually, the winner of the PFWA award wins the AP award.

A Buffalo Bills’ safety won an award

Hamlin’s victory was predicted early last year when the safety planned to play football this season after sustaining a life-threatening injury in a game during the 2022 regular season.

Hamlin’s stats were not impressive by NFL standards this season. He played in five games and recorded two total tackles for the Bills this season. However, the fact Hamlin was able to play at all in 2023 following cardiac arrest and Commotio cordis was a remarkable achievement for the 2021 sixth-round pick.

Joe Flacco earned it based off of the 2023 season

There were other more deserving candidates for the award based on on-the-field play. Joe Flacco led the Clever Browns to the playoffs by playing impressive football after he was signed to their practice squad in November. Flacco finished with 1,616 yards passing, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in his six games for the Browns.

NFL fans aren’t sure Damar Hamlin earned the award

Many NFL fans took to social media to voice their irritation Hamlin won the prize. Here are the best takes of fans reacting to Hamlin winning Comeback Player of the Year.

LOL FOR WHAT

— drone (@dronerogan) January 26, 2024

Didn’t know NFL was make a wish

— Mattie Zeeff (@mattiezeeff) January 26, 2024

sorry but that is RIDICULOUS
give him a special award this is about football and performance on the field

happy for this young man but every time we do this we make these awards irrelevant

— NFL Fanatic (@nflFanatic1960) January 26, 2024