Buffalo Bills Share Damar Hamlin Is Speaking With Teammates After Having His Breathing Tube Removed

Damar Hamlin is back speaking after having a breathing tube removed.

On Friday, NFL fans got more positive news regarding the Bills’ safety player. The team released a statement on Hamlin’s health condition, saying his breathing tube was removed, and he has been speaking with his teammates.

“Per the physicians at UCMC, Damar’s breathing tube was removed overnight. He continues to progress remarkably in his recovery,” the statement read. “His neurologic function remains intact, and he has been able to talk to his family and care team.”

The NFL team also shared that Hamlin joined in on the team’s meeting via FaceTime and gave an important message to his fellow players.

“It was not a long interaction as you can imagine with his situation, but he made hand signals, hand gestures. The thing that makes me laugh is he did this to the guys right away. He flexed on them, I guess,” Head coach Sean McDermott said.

McDermott continued, “He’s just got some staple things that they know him for and that he does. And he made the heart symbol probably more than anything, and then he gave them a thumbs up. And somewhere in the midst of that, and it was a little bit hard to hear, but he said, ‘I love you boys,’ and, of course, I think that got the guys.”

The latest update comes just a day after the team revealed Hamlin has made “significant progress” despite still being “critically ill.” The team said Hamlin was able to communicate to his medical team through writing.

“There has been substantial improvement in his condition in the last 24 hours. We had significant concern about him after the injury and after the event that happened on the field, but he is making substantial progress,” Dr. Timothy Pritts said.