Girlfriend of ex-Bronco Peyton Hillis shares promising update on his recovery

Former Broncos and NFL running back Peyton Hillis is “on the road to recovery,” according to his girlfriend.

Angela Cole posted the great news on Instagram late Wednesday night, after Hillis has been in the ICU for a week. He heroically saved his children from drowning off the coast of Florida, but suffered major issues with his lungs and kidneys in the process. Cole says Hillis is off his ventilator and thanked the hospital for taking care of him.

 

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A post shared by Angela Cole (@angelacoleofficial)

“A hero ❤️ ,” Cole wrote. “So proud of this man and so incredibly grateful for family and this incredible hospital. Peyton is off the ventilator and is on the road to recovery. Please continue to pray for he’s still got a ways ahead of him, but thank you for all of your prayers and love and support thus far. It truly makes all the difference. Today was a good day. ❤️🙏🏻”

The Broncos drafted Hillis in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played two seasons with the team, scoring seven total touchdowns and rushing for just shy of 400 yards. He played in 26 games for Denver before moving on to the Browns.

Hillis found a ton of success in Cleveland in 2010, rushing for nearly 1,200 yards and scoring 13 total touchdowns. He landed on the cover of the popular video game “Madden” for the year 2012 thanks to his efforts.

Hillis retired in 2015 after stints with the Chiefs and the Giants. Both the Browns and University of Arkansas, where Hillis played his college football, sent out tweets with prayer emojis after the original accident.

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