Hamler moved from his hometown, Pontiac, Michigan, to Florida to play his final year of high school football as a senior at IMG Academy.[1] Before his first career game at IMG Academy, he tore his ACL.[2] Prior to transferring to IMG Academy, Hamler was a two year letterman at St. Mary's Preparatory School in Orchard Lake, Michigan. He was rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and Scout and a three star prospect by 247Sports. He also ran track for two seasons.
In the first game of his collegiate career against Appalachian State, Hamler returned a kickoff 52 yards with less than two minutes on the clock to help spark Penn State's game-tying drive. He capped the drive off with a 15-yard touchdown reception with under a minute remaining, ending the game with 3 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.[3] Against Ohio State, Hamler was awarded Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week honors after recording four receptions for 138 yards, including a 93-yard touchdown. Through five games, Hamler recorded 13 receptions for 308 yards and four touchdowns in his first season as a collegiate athlete.[4]
In Week 2, Hamler made his NFL debut and recorded three receptions for 48 receiving yards in a 26–21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.[10] In Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Hamler recorded his first career touchdown catch with no time remaining on the clock to help the Broncos win the game 31–30.[11] In Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers, Hamler recorded two receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns during the 32–27 victory.[12] On January 2, 2021, Hamler was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.[13] He finished his rookie season with 30 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns.[13]
Trying to shake off the hamstring issues that plagued his rookie season, Hamler began training camp of his sophomore season in a crowded receiving corps.[14][15] He shone early in preseason, catching a touchdown from Drew Lock during the Broncos' first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.[16] He suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve on September 28, 2021.[17]
On December 3, 2022, Hamler was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.[18] He played in seven games and recorded seven receptions for 165 yards in the 2022 season.[19] On March 23, 2023, Hamler was ruled out for 4–6 months after undergoing surgery to repair a partially torn pectoral muscle he suffered while training on his own.[20]
On July 31, 2023, Hamler announced he was diagnosed with pericarditis. Hamler was then waived by the Denver Broncos with a non-football illness designation.[21]
Hamler signed with the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts on September 30, 2023.[22] He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.[23]
