More than half of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not receive immediate CPR, a statistic that underscores a critical gap in public readiness to respond to life-threatening emergencies. To address this, the American Heart Association and the National Football League have 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 leverage their platforms through public service announcements, social media, and community education initiatives to help more people learn Hands-Only CPR, which involves chest compressions without rescue breaths. The timing of the announcement aligns with World Restart a Heart Day on Oct. 16. Ahead of that observance, 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 at 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.”
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), 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. Hamlin’s recovery highlighted the critical role of immediate CPR and AED use.
“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 American Heart Association is a global leader in CPR, publishing official guidelines and creating resuscitation science, education, and training for more than 60 years. The Nation of Lifesavers initiative and the collaboration with the NFL support the Association’s goal to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030. The 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 American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of 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 of 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 information, a Bystander CPR Infographic, and Hands-Only CPR Resources. You can also learn about the difference between Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack and take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. For more information, visit heart.org and stroke.org.
