NFL Players Join American Heart Association to Champion CPR Education Nationwide

The American Heart Association and National Football League have announced the 2025 Nation of Lifesavers Player Ambassador Class, featuring 30 current NFL players committed to advancing CPR education initiatives across the country. This collaborative effort represents a significant step in addressing the alarming statistics surrounding sudden cardiac arrest and the urgent need for widespread CPR knowledge.

Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety who survived his own cardiac emergency during a 2023 game, serves as National Ambassador while also representing his team. His personal experience underscores the life-or-death importance of immediate CPR response. When someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death, according to Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. The leadership of the NFL and its players, including Hamlin, has helped millions understand how critical it is to be prepared to act during cardiac emergencies.

The statistics reveal the pressing need for this initiative. According to the American Heart Association, more than half of sudden cardiac arrest victims outside hospital settings do not receive immediate CPR, resulting in a 90% fatality rate. However, learning Hands-Only CPR requires just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances. The Association provides comprehensive resources at https://www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR to help people learn this critical skill.

This marks the second annual ambassador class, supporting the Association's Nation of Lifesavers movement that launched following Hamlin's cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football. The collaboration demonstrates the Association's ongoing commitment to CPR education and supports its ambitious goal to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030. The NFL Foundation provides CPR grants to each team to increase CPR and AED access in communities, funding Hands-Only CPR training, credentialing programs, and educational kits for schools and youth sports organizations.

More than half of NFL teams have hosted American Heart Association trainings, educating players, staff, youth coaches, and fan families on Hands-Only CPR techniques. As part of NFL PLAY 60 youth health efforts, Hands-Only CPR education has become integral within the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs in schools. Students and families learn to recognize cardiac emergencies, call 911, and perform proper chest compressions.

The American Heart Association also serves as a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established by the NFL, advocating for evidence-based policies to prevent fatal cardiac outcomes among high school students. With nearly three out of four cardiac arrests occurring in home settings, the need for widespread CPR knowledge becomes increasingly critical. The Association emphasizes that if a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately call 911 and begin chest compressions at 100-120 beats per minute. The ongoing partnership between the NFL and American Heart Association continues building momentum toward creating a nation prepared to respond effectively when cardiac emergencies occur.