Connor Shaw was known for his heroics on the football field. But he faced his most serious injury outside of the gridiron. He had to survive a sudden cardiac arrest. Now, after coming out the other side, the experience has given him a new mission. The former South Carolina quarterback suffered the cardiac arrest last September while coaching his son’s flag football team. He has recovered and has taken it upon himself to help educate other players, coaches, and athletes around this issue.

“I was walking toward our sideline,” Shaw said. “And that’s when I collapsed in a sudden cardiac arrest.” Luckily, the field was just five minutes away from a fire department, and in no time, an on-duty police officer and coaches performed CPR on Shaw. The first responders’ quick thinking saved his life.

Shaw had no prior complications or genetic traits that could have made him susceptible. But he recognized the rarity of the life-saving measures. Now, he talks about how 93% of people who suffer cardiac arrests don’t usually make it. The chances of survival decrease further if it happens away from a hospital. Shaw acknowledged how lucky he was and that gratitude kindled him to finally create HRTHUDL, aka the Heart Huddle.

“It became obvious that everyone has a story about sudden cardiac arrest. Sometimes stories of survival, but more often stories of heartbreak. I had no idea it was this prevalent,” Shaw said. Survival increases significantly when bystander CPR is initiated.

Through his nonprofit organization, the former Gamecocks QB aims to facilitate CPR training, provide AEDs, and raise awareness of the prevalence of heart disease. He roped in the Fire Department’s Caleb Carter, who saved his life that day, and started connecting with the first responders. Shaw wants to expand the nonprofit beyond South Carolina. The organization has partnered with AED companies CoroMed, Avive, Stryker, and Zoll for the devices.

“HRTHUDL’s number one mission is to host as many CPR events as we can,” Shaw said. “I think it should just be a basic life skill for people so that they’re prepared in those moments. And then we want to get AEDs at all middle school fields, rec fields, city parks, and even in all police cars.”

To achieve his goals, Shaw is working with the Simpsonville Parks and Recreation Department to put AEDs in youth leagues. He kicked off his campaign at Williams-Brice Stadium last year when the team hosted Clemson in November, gaining significant traction.

Now, he has extended the opportunities to every participant who wants to learn. So, attendees can easily apply now to get AEDs for their local fields and also slot in for a CPR training session.

We all remember Damar Hamlin from the Buffalo Bills who suffered a high-profile cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game in January 2023 after a routine tackle. He was diagnosed with commotio cordis, a rare condition where a blunt impact to the chest disrupts the heart’s rhythm at a precise millisecond. Quick action by medical staff using CPR and an AED restored his heartbeat on the field, and he eventually returned to professional play.

It doesn’t even have to be football. Even soccer has such stories. Christian Eriksen from Denmark suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 while playing against Finland. He was resuscitated on the pitch and later fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), allowing him to eventually return to top-level competition with Manchester United.

Connor Shaw has big plans for his noble initiative

Shaw’s vision for his organization isn’t limited to middle school fields, recreations fields and city parks. Going forwards, he wants to equip every police patrol car in South Carolina with portable AEDs. It started with 300 vehicles, and the now the Gamecocks legends wants to see it grow even further.

“I have a vision for people to start their own. It could be school campaigns or fundraising in memory of someone, or an athletic initiative where they know of a venue or venues that don’t have AEDs,” Shaw said.

“We’re going to welcome them and give them the resources and contacts to do it, and we’ll just be behind the curtains lifting them up and sourcing the AEDs for them. You know, they can be a heart-hero in their own town.”

Top Stories

Pittsburgh Public Schools Forced Into Major Adjustment for Upcoming NFL Draft

Mark Davis Clarifies Position on Selling Raiders as NFL Prepares to Vote on Succession Contingency Plan

NFL Looking to Address Troy Aikman’s Role With Dolphins Amid ESPN Conflict of Interest – Report

Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift’s Wedding Plans Reportedly Confirmed Amid Chiefs TE Returns for 14th Season

“I Lost 8 Figures”: Giants Super Bowl Champ Reveals How He Overcame Career-Threatening Knee Injury

WNBA Veteran Points to Geno Auriemma’s Message Amid Caitlin Clark’s Controversial Team USA Moment

Connor Shaw wants to make the most of his second chance at life after the cardiac arrest. After his time as a staffer at South Carolina, he joined the private sector at Arthur J. Gallagher and Co. On the personal front, he welcomed his fourth child with his wife, Molly, in November 2025. His post-football life has a part of the game, as he still coaches his son’s flag team. However, a major portion of his life is now dedicated to making sure that others don’t go through what he had to endure.