After the Bills' Week 2 win over the Titans, Damar Hamlin offered an important bit of perspective when asked about seeing teammate Dane Jackson taken off on a stretcher.<br /><br />'Life is bigger than football,' he said. <br /><br />Monday night, it was Hamlin who was forced off the field with a cardiac arrest, as the safety was given CPR, taken away in an ambulance, and later listed as in critical condition by the NFL after tackling the Bengals' Tee Higgins.<br /><br />Hamlin's family was watching his game vs. the Bengals, and came down to the field to be with him as he was taken into the ambulance.<br /><br />Back on November 20, Hamlin was captured greeting his family before Buffalo's win over Cleveland, hugging his mom Nina reportedly for the second time in that pregame.<br /><br />The heartwarming video is representative of his commitment to family.<br /><br />Born when his mother was just 16 years old, Hamlin has said he's 'extremely close' to his family and it played a role in his decision to stay close to home in college. <br /><br />'I've got a baby brother Damir Hamlin], he's six years old right now and that was the biggest reason probably why I chose Pitt,' he told News 4 Buffalo after he was drafted by the Bills two years ago.<br /><br />'Just staying close to my family and then having my little brother around so I could be a role model for him and just show him examples of life that I've never really had,' Hamlin said.<br /><br />That mission of being a role model extended past his family as well.<br /><br />Before Hamlin was a 24-year-old, second-year safety for Buffalo with 30 games under his belts, he showed a commitment to charity in his local community.<br /><br />A video emerged Monday night of Hamlin participating in a toy drive for children during his time at Pitt, in which the budding player spoke up about his reasons for giving back.<br /><br />'Just seeing role models in person. I feel like that's big in kids' lives and that's something that we haven't always had in Pittsburgh,' he said.<br /><br />'Just being younger and seeing the difference from some people that had that role models in their life. <br /><br />'It could be you all you have to do is just work hard, and stay focused. I'm thankful that I can even be in this position to give back.'<br /><br />Hamlin also created 'The Chasing M's Foundation' to 'positively impact the community that raised me,' with the charity's first program a toy drive for the holidays in December 2020.<br /><br />He explained his motivation for giving back on the toy drive's GoFundMe page, with his third annual toy drive being held last week.<br /><br />'As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me,' he said. <br /><br />'This campaign gives you the opportunity to contribute to our first initiative and positively impact children who have been hardest hit by the pandemic.<br /><br />'Thank you so much for supporting me on and off the field. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with you to help make the holiday season a little brighter for the kids
