Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin has been given the green light to return to football after suffering from cardiac arrest and collapsing on the field during a game four months ago. Bills General Manager Brandon Beane announced the news on Monday, April 27, confirming that Hamlin is back in Buffalo and participating in the team’s voluntary offseason workouts.
“He’s fully cleared, he’s here. He’s in a great head space to come back and make his return,” Beane said. “Damar is preparing to play.”
According to reports, Hamlin visited with three different specialists before his return, all of whom agreed that he could fully go back to playing football. The Bills had their own doctor sit in on Hamlin’s meetings with specialists, but the team has indicated it will follow the lead of the specialists.
“He’s moving forward one step at a time here,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. “He’s been cleared from a physical standpoint, and we’ll provide all the mental help we can from a mind, body and spirit standpoint.”
“You’re never going to doubt a guy like that who has had a lot of adversity in his life and he has continued to find ways,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said.
In the months since his on-field medical incident, Hamlin was honored with the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award for his commitment to community service. He visited Washington, D.C., to help promote bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing the availability of automated external defibrillators on school campuses, an initiative he discussed with President Joe Biden at the White House.
Additionally, his Chasing M’s Foundation raised over $9 million dollars in the days after he went to the hospital, with the money largely having been donated to the charity’s toy drive, which had an initial goal of $2,500.
Looking ahead to next season, Hamlin hopes to contribute for the Bills in their 2023 campaign after experiencing what doctors are calling a remarkable recovery.
“That’s always the goal, like I said, as a competitor, you know, I’m trying to do things to keep advancing my situation,” Hamlin said. “But I’m allowing that to be in God’s hands. I’m just thankful he gave me a second chance.”
