Bills’ Damar Hamlin can play after heart arrest. On Tuesday, Bill’s general manager Brandon Beane announced that safety Damar Hamlin had been given the green light to resume football activities.
Hamlin has finished up with his specialists and is present and active at this week’s voluntary Bills exercises.
“He’s fully cleared, he’s here, and he’s of the attitude; he’s in a terrific head space to come back and make his return,” Beane said. On Monday, the Buffalo began their optional off-season workout program.
Read more: Giants and Logan Webb reach a 5-year contract deal.
During the first quarter of a regular season Monday Night Football game on January 2, Hamlin experienced cardiac arrest. This statement comes three and a half months later, on April 2. Beane stated that since returning from Cincinnati, Hamlin had seen several doctors, all of whom have concurred that he can resume playing football at full strength.
Beane explained, “When he departed Cincinnati, it was to Buffalo General [Hospital].” “He initially saw a couple of doctors here in Buffalo and then went on to see three more doctors, the most recent of whom was on Friday; they all came to the same conclusion. It’s not a score of 2-1 or 3-1. All parties agree on what happened and that he can return to his normal routine and activities without any restrictions.”
In February, Hamlin expressed optimism about his future on the playing field.
“Eventually. That’s always the aim; as a competitor, I’m always looking for ways to improve my standing, “In an interview with Michael Strahan broadcast on Fox before Super Bowl LVII, Hamlin revealed as much. “But I’m putting that decision where it belongs—in God’s. Simply put, I’m grateful that he gave me a second shot.”
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has indicated the team will keep providing mental health resources for Hamlin.
“He’s taking it slow and steady,” McDermott added. “He’s been given the all-clear from a medical perspective, and we’ll give him all the mind, body, and spirit support we can.”
Last month, Hamlin was in Washington, DC, advocating for the passage of the Access to AEDs bill, which would enhance access to automated external defibrillators and training for their usage on school grounds. At the White House, he also met with Vice President Joe Biden.
The National Football League has formed the Smart Heart Sports Coalition to promote legislation in all 50 states to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest among high school athletes. The coalition has written letters to the governors of 43 states where it believes further rules are needed, and its goal is to obtain legislation at the state level and implement these policies within the next three years.
Hamlin has had an eventful few months, highlighted by his acceptance of the NFL Players Association’s highest accolade, the Alan Page Community Award. His Chasing M’s Foundation received over $9 million in donations in the days following his hospitalization, most of which were given to a toy drive with a $2,500 objective. At NFL Honors and on the field before Super Bowl LVII, he was honored with the medical and athletic training staff of the Bills and Bengals and certain team members from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
“It’s exciting to go from a guy battling for his life to who he is now; his story hasn’t been written,” said Beane, who spent several days in the hospital with Hamlin and his family. “The focus has shifted to the comeback, and seeing that his health was the primary concern throughout is encouraging. Yet, it’s remarkable that we can now talk about how many months have passed and confidently say that he has been given a clean bill of health. And I’m happy for him and his loved ones as they continue on this path.”
