Former Denver Broncos wide receiver K.J. Hamler’s brave decison to share something traumatic from his past could very well save someone’s life in the future.
In a video posted to the official X account of his current team, the UFL’s Orlando Storm, Hamler said he tried to take his own life during his time with the Broncos after injuries and several personal tragedies stacked up.
Hamler was a 2nd round pick (No. 46 overall) by the Broncos in the 2020 NFL draft. He only played 23 games in 3 seasons, including just 10 games over his final 2 seasons in Denver due to serious injuries.
“My (NFL) experience didn’t start off how I wanted it to,” Hamler said. “I never had injuries in college, and then I get to the league, and adjusting to Denver was very different for a 20-year-old … I had dislocated my hip and tore my ACL at the same time. Getting told I would never play ball again, and on top of that, the mental aspect, I had the injury, and my cousin passed, and my grandmother passed, and I think that’s when everything went rock bottom. It was at a point in my life that I didn’t want to be here, that I tried to make the decision to not be here, if you know what I mean, and once I tried to make that decision, and by the grace of God it didn’t fully go through, I had to figure out something to cope with my feelings and cope with my emotions.”
Hamler tore his ACL in Week 3 of the 2021 season and was put on injured reserve for the rest of the year. After his suicide attempt, Hamler said turning to his passion for making and recording music helped save his life and gave him purpose.
“Wow,” Broncos reporter Sayre Bedinger wrote on X in response to Hamler’s video. “I remember KJ Hamler had been going through a lot in his time with the Broncos, but I don’t think I had ever heard him say anything like this. Glad to see/hear he’s doing well now.”
Catch him back in action THIS WEEKEND vs the Stallions.
K.J. Hamler Might Be Playing Way Back to NFL
Hamler’s play in the UFL this season might very well lead to him getting another chance on an NFL roster.
He’s been on fire for the Storm this season, with 16 receptions for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns through 4 games, as well as taking on the role of return specialist.
Hamler’s 40-yard touchdown reception in a 29-27 win over the Louisville Kings went viral after leading his team to a 3-0 start to the regular season.
“NEED another LOOK at KJ Hamler TUDDY,” the Storm wrote on its official X account.
Hamler Went From Big Ten Star to Broncos
Hamler only played 2 seasons of college football at Penn State but was a 3-time All-Big Ten pick — twice as a wide receiver and once as a return specialist. He capped his time with the Nittany Lions with 56 receptions for 904 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2019.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Hamler, 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds, to former NFL wide receiver Tavon Austin before the draft.
Hamler’s sub-4.40-second 40-yard dash made teams willing to overlook his size, and he wound up with a 4-year, $7.13 million rookie contract. In his 3 seasons with the Broncos before he was released in 2023, the Broncos went 17-33, and he played for 3 different head coaches: Vic Fangio, Paul Hackett, and interim head coach Jerry Rosburg.
Former Broncos 2nd Round Pick Attempted Suicide Following 2021 Injury