Will Damar Hamlin retire? Bills clarify team's stance on safety's future

Damar Hamlin was back in the stands as the Buffalo Bills played the Cincinnati Bengals in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. It was a welcome respite seeing him back and waving to the crowd. It was in the same fixture, albeit in Cincinnati, where he was taken ill and collapsed on the field with a cardiac arrest.

The fact that he is back out of the hospital is a relief for everyone. That being said, he still could not make it to the field today as he progresses gradually toward full health. He just returned to the facility this week and Bills head coach Sean McDermott gave the broadcasters an update on the situation.

He said that Damar Hamlin is still taking baby steps and the Bills have left his future completely in his court.

A spokesperson for the family also clarified that even though he is out of the hospital, Hamlin has a long road to recovery. He still has to take on oxygen and his heart rate is being regularly monitored. He is also reportedly in good spirits as he is making gradual improvements.

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Can Damar Hamlin learn from others who have gone through the ordeal?

The NFL has hardly seen anything like what happened to Damar Hamlin. However, he is not the first player to suffer a cardiac arrest on the field. Such incidents have happened on the soccer field before, sometimes with tragic consequences. However, a couple of players who recovered took very different trajectories.

Soccer club Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba collapsed during a game against Tottenham Hotspur. Though he recovered, he never returned to sports and retired. Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the field while playing for Denmark in the Euros soccer tournament.

He recovered and wanted to return to competitive sports. Even though the Italian league did not allow it and he had to leave Inter Milan, he joined Brentford and then Manchester United and is currently an active footballer.

That said, Damar Hamlin could return to the field. However, we do not know the exact medical conditions and circumstances. He would need to consider various doctors' opinions and then consult with family and friends before deciding to take his next step. What's nice to see is that the Buffalo Bills are giving him the space to make the decision.