Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin medically cleared to return to football after cardiac arrest

BUFFALO — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has officially been medically cleared to return to football activities, just over 100 days after collapsed on the field in Cincinnati during a cardiac arrest incident.

The news was shared during a media availability with Bills General Manager Brandon Beane. Hamlin was cleared after meeting with three specialists who were all in agreement that he could return to football.

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“He’s seen three additional specialists, most recently on Friday, and they’re all in agreement. Its not two-to-one, or three-to-one or anything like that, they’re all in lockstep on what this was and that he is cleared to resume activities just like anyone else who was coming back from an injury or whatever,” Beane said during the media availability, posted to the Bills’ social media pages.

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“He’s fully cleared. He’s here and he’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return.”

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Per GM Brandon Beane, Damar Hamlin has been cleared to resume full football activities.@HamlinIsland is in Buffalo and in a great headspace. ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/wa2ZfGm8mX
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 18, 2023

Hamlin collapsed during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium January 2. Medical personnel performed both CPR and used a defibrillator to keep blood flowing and restart his heart after suffering the cardiac arrest incident.

The game was postponed and later cancelled.

Hamlin was hospitalized at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for several days before he was allowed to return to Buffalo to finish his treatment. He was later discharged from a Buffalo hospital January 11.

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Since being released from the hospital, Hamlin made appearances at the AFC divisional playoff game between the Bengals and Bills in Buffalo. Hamlin was also honored on the field of Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona along with several members of the UC medical staff both at the hospital and on the field who saved his life.

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