Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin has been ‘fully cleared’ to return to the NFL just months after horrifically suffering a cardiac arrest on the field during a game.
During the first quarter of the Bills’ crucial regular season contest against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 3, Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed to the turf after he tackled receiver Tee Higgins. The 24-year-old had to be revived on the pitch amid worrying scenes before he was rushed to the University of Cincinnati hospital.
The match was quickly suspended with players clearly unable to continue while there was a tremendous outpouring of support for Hamlin and his family as news filtered through regarding the severity of his condition. Thankfully, Hamlin remarkably recovered and was fully discharged from hospital in January while he attended Super Bowl LVII in Arizona.
Hamlin has used his concerning experience to spread awareness for both CPR training and AED accessibility, but he has held the long-term goal of ultimately returning to the NFL in the future. According to the Bills' general manager Brandon Beane, Hamlin is able to return to gridiron action after being cleared by three different specialists.
“He's fully cleared," Beane told reporters on Tuesday. “He's here, and he is of the mindset, he's in a great headspace to come back and make his return.”
Beane revealed Hamlin’s team of specialists are ‘in agreement’ that he is able to resume his football career just three and a half months after the traumatic incident back in January. The GM also claimed Hamlin has been working out recently ahead of the news.
Back in February, Hamlin confirmed he hoped to make it back to the NFL despite his health hazard. Speaking to Michael Strahan, the Bills safety 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.”
