Submitted by Travis J. Sloan, AHA, Madison/Outstate Wisconsin
MADISON, WI – To boost awareness of CPR, the American Heart Association (AHA) and NFL (National Football League) unveiled the 2025 Nation of Lifesavers™ Player Ambassador Class on World Restart a Heart Day, which takes places annually on October 16. The Ambassador class is made up of 31 current NFL players who are dedicated to promoting this lifesaving skill. Included on that roster the Packers’ own offensive lineman, Donovan Jennings.
“As an offensive lineman, my job is to protect my quarterback on the field-but off the field I want to help protect lives. Seconds matter when someone needs CPR and knowing what to do could mean everything. That’s why I’m honored to serve as a Nation of Lifesavers Ambassador,” said Donovan Jennings, offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers and Nation of Lifesavers Ambassador.
Ambassadors support the American Heart Association’s call to action to learn CPR by amplifying public service announcements (PSAs), social media content and local community education events.
Members of the 2025 Nation of Lifesaver Ambassador Class of our regional teams are: Green Bay Packers- Donovan Jennings, offensive guard. Minnesota Vikings- Jalen Redmond, defensive end, and Chicago Bears- Tremaine Edmunds, linebacker.
“When someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death. Thanks to the leadership of the NFL and its players, including Damar Hamlin, millions of people now understand just how critical it is to be prepared to act, said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the AHA. “Our shared commitment has inspired a movement, and together we’re building a nation of lifesavers.”
Over half of sudden cardiac arrest victims outside hospitals don’t receive immediate CPR—leading to a 90% fatality rate, according to the American Heart Association. Yet learning Hands-Only CPR takes just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances.
“The NFL’s partnership with the AHA 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.”
This is the second annual ambassador class. The initiative supports the Association’s Nation of Lifesavers movement which launched in 2023 following the sudden cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills’ player Damar Hamlin during Monday Night Football™.
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 is the Association’s most recent demonstration of its commitment to CPR education and in support of its goal to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.
To further bring CPR training to the community level, the NFL Foundation provides CPR grants to each team to help increase CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) access in community neighborhoods. Since 2023, the annual grants have funded Hands-Only CPR training, Heartsaver® CPR AED credentialling, placement of CPR in Schools Kits and CPR Youth Sports Kits. Each team works to create a plan customized to the needs of their local market. The American Heart Association has worked alongside more than half of the NFL teams to educate players and staff, local youth coaches and fan families on Hands-Only CPR and train in Heartsaver® CPR AED.
Additionally, as part of the NFL PLAY 60 youth health and wellness efforts in schools alongside the American Heart Association the Hands-Only CPR Education is a key pillar within the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, where students and families learn how to save lives with Hands-Only CPR. In just a few simple steps, they discover how to recognize a cardiac emergency, call 911, and take action by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest. By learning and sharing this lifesaving skill, students become champions for heart health in their schools, homes and communities.
The AHA is also a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established by the NFL in 2023. The coalition is actively advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based public policies that will prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. According to the AHA, more than 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac 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 emergency services 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, visit heart.org/nation.
