With doctors saying he’s now ready, NFL safety Damar Hamlin participated in his first football practice three months after his cardiac arrest scare.
The 25-year-old’s recovery process has been steady yet miraculous since the incident occurred, and the Buffalo Bills player got his wish sooner than expected. Blavity reported the NFL canceled a January football game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals after Hamlin collapsed on the field following a solid tackle.
In early February, the lead doctor of the NFL’s player association, Dr. Thom Mayer, said on Sirius XM’s Heart to Heart health podcast that it was a possibility that Hamlin could play football again. He was proven right since the McKees Rock, Pennsylvania, native has been given the green light to be active on the field again after seeing three specialists who all agreed he had recovered 100% physically, according to Brandon Beane, the general manager of the Buffalo Bills.
“He is fully cleared. He’s here,” Beane told the media on Tuesday, ABC News reported. “He’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return.”
The Bills celebrated his return with a post on Twitter welcoming him back.
Damar Hamlin is working out with the team today in Buffalo.
Glad to have you back, 3. 🫶 pic.twitter.com/n80HheSIaG
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 18, 2023
The football organization and doctors haven’t shared what caused the athlete’s heart to stop.
During an interview with former NFL player and Good Morning America‘s Michael Strahan, Hamlin shared he was fully cooperating with doctors to find the root of the cardiac arrest. He also addressed his thoughts on if he wanted to continue playing football.
“Eventually, that’s always the goal, but I’m allowing that to be in God’s hands. It’s a tough situation. They can’t really tell because it’s an up to me thing I guess … it’s a long road,” he said.