Bill’s QB Josh Allen speaks about the ‘spiritual awakening’ after Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest

For many, Damar Hamlin’s recovery from his on-field cardiac arrest in Cincinnati on Jan. 2 was nothing short of a miracle. But for his Buffalo Bills teammate Josh Allen, the experience was a more literal religious experience.

‘[There was] just kind of a spiritual awakening for me, and I know for a lot of other people who might not have had the strongest faith or weren’t one of the greatest [or] strongest Christian supporter,’ the Bills quarterback said Kyle Brandt of ESPN ahead of Sunday’s playoff match against the Miami Dolphins.

“Something grabbed me,” Allen added. “It was extremely powerful, I couldn’t deny that.”

Since his collapse, Hamlin has made remarkable strides, transferring from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to a Buffalo-area hospital before his release this week. The 24-year-old security guard has kept in touch with his team-mates as he continues to recover after being revived on the pitch of Paycor Stadium.

For many, Damar Hamlin’s recovery from his on-field cardiac arrest in Cincinnati on Jan. 2 was nothing short of a miracle. But for his Buffalo Bills teammate Josh Allen, the experience was a more literal religious one

And as if his improvement were enough to excite Bill’s players and fans, Buffalo kick returner Nyheim Hines’ touchdown last Sunday certainly did the trick. The dramatic game was the Bills’ first since their Jan. 2 game in Cincinnati was postponed and then canceled after Hamlin’s collapse, sending the Bills Mafia, as the fans are known, into hysteria.

Allen was also overcome with emotion.

“That kickoff return was pretty crazy too,” he told ESPN. “So there have been a lot of things that have happened and a lot of … eye-opening situations that we’ve encountered or encountered.”

Damar Hamlin #3 of the Buffalo Bills tackles Tee Higgins #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of an NFL soccer game at Paycor Stadium January 2. He would go into cardiac arrest during the game but has since been discharged from the hospital

Buffalo Bills RB Nyheim Hines celebrates as he retakes the opening kickoff for a touchdown on Sunday. The Bills beat the New England Patriots 35-23

After Sunday’s game, Allen described the experience as “bone cold” and revealed that he told his teammates at the time of the touchdown, “God is real.”

Allen did not present himself as a perfect Christian but said his recent experiences with Hamlin brought him back to the religion.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t been the most devoted follower of Christ in my life, and I’ve had my different beliefs, thoughts and ideas,” Allen told ESPN. “But then something got me, and that was it [something] extremely powerful that…I couldn’t deny it.’

Allen, a 26-year-old Californian who acted as a student at the University of Wyoming, continued: “It was crazy; It wasn’t fun, but at the same time it was very affirming.’