More than half of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not receive immediate CPR, a statistic that underscores a persistent gap in public readiness to respond to emergencies. To help close that gap, the American Heart Association and the National Football League announced the 2026 Nation of Lifesavers™ Player Ambassador Class, a group of 33 current NFL players who will encourage fans to learn Hands-Only CPR and be prepared to act in a cardiac emergency.
The ambassadors will promote Hands-Only CPR—chest compression-only CPR—through public service announcements, social media, and community education initiatives. Ahead of World Restart a Heart Day on Oct. 16, fans attending the Monday Night Football matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium can participate in free Hands-Only CPR education in the pregame fan fest. Among the ambassadors are Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety and national ambassador for Nation of Lifesavers, and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington, both of whom will take the field to spotlight the importance of CPR readiness.
“When someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death. NFL players have a powerful opportunity to help fans move from awareness to action by learning CPR and being prepared to use it,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “Together with the NFL, we are building a nation of lifesavers.”
This is the third annual ambassador class, which began following the sudden cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin during Monday Night Football in January 2023. The program is part of the Association’s broader effort to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030. The American Heart Association is also a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established by the NFL in 2023, which advocates for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies to prevent fatal cardiac arrest outcomes among high school students. According to the Association, more than 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital annually, and about 40% of those occur among student-athletes.
With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately call 9-1-1 and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately two inches. Hands-Only CPR is chest compression-only CPR. Learn CPR today by visiting www.heart.org/nation.
Additional resources include Bystander CPR and a Bystander CPR Infographic. For those seeking more information, Hands-Only CPR Resources are available, along with a guide on Hands-Only CPR vs CPR with Breaths. Understanding the difference between Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack is also vital. Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. For more information, visit heart.org and stroke.org.
