More than half of people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not receive immediate CPR, a statistic that underscores a persistent gap in public readiness to respond to life-threatening emergencies. In an effort to close that gap, the American Heart Association and the National Football League today 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 tonight’s 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 tonight 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.”
The 2026 ambassador class includes players from all 32 NFL teams, such as Kaleb Proctor (Arizona Cardinals), Josh Woods (Atlanta Falcons), Keyon Martin (Baltimore Ravens), Sam Martin (Carolina Panthers), Josh Blackwell (Chicago Bears), Kris Jenkins Jr. (Cincinnati Bengals), Denzel Ward (Cleveland Browns), Tyler Booker (Dallas Cowboys), and many others. 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 early January 2023.
“The NFL's partnership with the American Heart Association will ensure that all members of the NFL family can serve as lifesavers during medical emergencies,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility. “We look forward to working with our Nation of Lifesaver Player Ambassadors to expand access to vital CPR training and education in communities across the country.”
The Association is the global leader in CPR, publishing the official guidelines for CPR and, for more than 60 years, creating resuscitation science, education, and training. The Nation of Lifesavers and the collaboration with the NFL represent the Association’s commitment to CPR education and support its goal 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. The coalition advocates for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based public policies that prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital annually, and about 40% of those occur among student-athletes. It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide. 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. To learn CPR, visit www.heart.org/nation. Additional resources, including a Bystander CPR page and a downloadable Bystander CPR Infographic, are available. For more information on the difference between Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack and to learn Hands-Only CPR in 90 seconds, visit www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. The American Heart Association provides extensive Hands-Only CPR Resources online.
The initiative highlights the critical role of immediate bystander action in improving survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. By leveraging the influence of NFL players, the campaign aims to turn awareness into action, potentially saving thousands of lives each year.
