Damar Hamlin has been spending time with Tee Higgins this off-season after the former suffered a cardiac arrest after tackling the latter.
During the first quarter of the Buffalo Bills’ regular season contest against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 3, Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed to the turf after he tackled receiver Higgins.
Hamlin had to be revived on the pitch amid worrying scenes before he was rushed to the University of Cincinnati hospital, where he remained for over a week.
Hamlin has now been ‘fully cleared’ to return to the NFL just months after horrifically suffering the cardiac arrest and hopes to return to the field this season.
And although the Bengals and Bills are rivals on the field, it appears Hamlin and Higgins are friends off of it after the scary incident - with Hamlin currently holidaying with Bengals trio Higgins, JaMarr Chase and Tyler Boyd.
Higgins, like all, was extremely worried and devastated after the incident as he stayed in communication with Hamlin's family in the days following the Week 17 game. The game was cancelled after the incident, with Hamlin on the field for around 45 minutes.
"Just letting his family do what he needs to do with all his loved ones and stuff like that," Higgins said at the time. "Hopefully I get to see him on the field Sunday and speak to him."
Just days after the season ended in February, Hamlin confirmed he hoped to make it back to the NFL despite his health hazard.
Speaking to NFL legend Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, he said: “That's always the goal, like I said, as a competitor, I'm trying to do things to keep advancing my situation. But, I'm allowing that to be in God's hands. I'm just thankful he gave me a second chance.”
Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott expressed his glee upon hearing the news too, adding: “Super excited for Damar. He's moving forward one step at a time. We'll provide all the mental health we can. Just taking it one day at a time.”
