Damar Hamlin makes a surprise visit to Immaculate Conception School in East Aurora

A surprise guest made a visit to Immaculate Conception School causing the students to give a little “shout.”

Damar Hamlin, safety for the Buffalo Bills, stopped by the East Aurora school as a favor to student Manny Butler, whose father is the former defensive backs coach for the Bills.  

Hamilin arrived full of energy and charm running around the gym high fiving the students.

“You all having a good day so far?” he asked the roaring children.

“It just got so much better,” one kid yelled back.

Hamlin talked one-on-one with some students, asking a series of Bills-themed trivia questions, and promising to do 20 pushups if anyone could name 10 Bills players in 30 seconds. He made good on the promise after several attempts from the students.

Then he turned the table by allowing the kids to ask him questions.

Does he play other sports?

He listed basketball, baseball, wrestling, track and field, and court hockey.

Why does he wear number 3?

“It was my dad’s number as well,” Hamlin said. “He’s the one who got me into football. I always looked up to my dad. He was my biggest role model growing up. To wear the number he had is like to honor him.”

What was your biggest game?

“I guess it was against the Chiefs.”

Will you win a Superbowl and if you do will you come back here?

“If we win a Superbowl this year, this will be my first stop,” he replied, earning him much cheers.

One student asked for his phone number.

“Get it from Manny. If Manny gives it to you, you got it,” Hamlin replied.

Father Aaron Kulczyk, parochial vicar for the parish, asked Hamlin about how teamwork helps a group to succeed.

“Everyone has a job to do. Everyone has a role,” Hamlin said in front of the stage. “The way everyone makes everyone better on a team is by doing the right things, knowing what you’re supposed to do, being where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there, holding each other accountable and being leaders. I think that’s the biggest thing for teamwork, being leaders and working together.”

Principal Mary Pauly asked Hamlin about his relationship with his mother.

“My mom’s my most favorite person in the world,” he said. “My mom is always there to comfort me, but also there to challenge me and guide me and to push me forward. Anything I say I want to accomplish in life, she holds me accountable. She doesn’t let me do things that aren’t in line with what I say I want to do in life.”

She also hasn’t missed one of his games since he was 6 years old. “She’s been to every game no matter the state, no matter the time, no matter the location. Nina Hamlin is always there.”

The hourlong presentation ended with music teacher Glenn Colton performing a song his class wrote for Hamlin after collapsing on the field in January 2023.

“I appreciate that,” Hamlin said. “That was superspecial. Thank you.”

The visit came as much of a surprise to the school staff as to the students. Pauly had been in contact with John Butler about the possibility of a visit, but did not receive a confirmation until that morning. 

“Of course we said yes,” she explained.

“It was a total surprise, very happy for the kids though,” said Father Gerard Skrzynski, pastor of Immaculate Conception and the WHEAT Scattered and Sown Family. “What a positive environment they had; role model to achieve their goals, continue their studies, teamwork. So much went on in a short time.”

Listen to the WNY Catholic Audio report: