'I Died On National TV!' Bills Damar Hamlin 'Fully Cleared' to Play - And 'Save Generations'
A little over three months since suffering cardiac arrest near the end of the 2022 season, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been "fully cleared" by his medical care team and has started to participate in offseason workouts. ... and Hamlin has even bigger plans.
"I died on national TV in front of the world ... (and) to see the world see the good that I was trying to do even before the notoriety, for that to be acknowledged, it was just a wonderful feeling,'' Hamlin said on Tuesday. "I plan to save a generation and generations to come."
Given what he's accomplished in his comeback - Bills general manager Brandon Beane revealed the somewhat miraculous news on Tuesday while meeting with the media ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft - who could put any of that past Hamlin?
"Damar is prepared to come back and play," Beane said. " ... He is cleared, resumed full activities just like anyone else coming back from injury ... He's fully cleared, he's here and is of the mindset to come back and make his return."
Beane said that Hamlin saw his "last specialists on Friday," potentially meaning that he is done with medical checkups on his health outside of the normal bumps and bruises that football brings. Hamlin said that he suffered Commotio Cordis on January 2 and intends to bring awareness to that illness issue.
After Hamlin collapsed on the field against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, a continued future in the NFL was one of the last things on anyone's mind. At just 23-years-old, Hamlin had suffered from sudden cardiac arrest and quickly became a national symbol of resilience due to the unprecedented sequence of events.
But before Tuesday's news, Hamlin has shown that his miraculous recovery has been in the works for some time. From raising awareness about CPR education to visiting the White House to support legislation about similar areas of conversation, he's been using his fame for good.
Now, Hamlin seems well on his way to making a triumphant return this fall.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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