Steve Gleason giving a speech at the ESPYS and Damar Hamlin watching from the crowd.Steve Gleason and Damar Hamlin (Photos via ESPN)
ESPN awkwardly cut to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during Steve Gleason’s moving speech at the ESPYs on Thursday night.

Damar Hamlin was one of many notable athletes in attendance for the annual ESPYs ceremony. In a heartwarming moment, Steve Gleason was given the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his advocacy on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Gleason was diagnosed with ALS when he was just 34 years of age back in 2011. The former Saints safety lost his ability to speak, so he uses a speech generating device to communicate.

In his Arthur Ashe Courage Award acceptance speech, Gleason said that he could “have been dead years ago.” In a rather awkward moment, the ESPN broadcast immediately cut over to Damar Hamlin:

“I should have been dead years ago” camera pans to Damar Hamlin.. ??? pic.twitter.com/XWOTSdU342

— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) July 12, 2024

In a horrific scene, the 26-year-old Damar Hamlin nearly died on the football field during the Bills’ Week 17, 2022 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2. Hamlin was attempting to tackle Bengals WR Tee Higgins, whose right shoulder inadvertently hit him hard in the chest.

Hamlin went into cardiac arrest but was revived thanks to the immediate responses from medical personnel. He was discharged from the hospital after nine days and later cleared for a return to football.

Since his diagnosis in 2011, Gleason’s “Team Gleason” foundation has raised over $40 million to support those with the disease. There is currently no cure for ALS.

Damar Hamlin Is Entering His Contract Year

The Pittsburgh product is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract with the Bills. Buffalo moved on from safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde this offseason, so there’s a possibility that Hamlin will see increased playing time in 2024.

The Bills will open their 2024 season with a home contest against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 8. Four days later, they’ll travel to Miami for a Thursday night showdown against the Dolphins.