Chris Berman: Damar Hamlin’s Cardiac Arrest Slowed NFL’s 18-Game Push

Longtime ESPN commentator Chris Berman says he believes Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s on-field cardiac arrest in 2023 slowed an NFL push for an 18-game regular season. “The push that might have happened while these current deals were in place—once Damar Hamlin happened, not the time to put it forward,” Berman said on Tuesday at Front Office Sports’ Tuned In summit. “That’s my belief. I’m sure I’m not too far off.” In January 2023, Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a Bills-Bengals game, an incident that sparked widespread conversation about player safety across the league.