Jan. 20, 2026, 10:29 a.m. ET
Retired New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora has returned to his NFL broadcasting duties in the United Kingdom after a frightening health scare that hospitalized him for nearly a month and left him in a coma for five days.
The two-time All-Pro selection and two-time Super Bowl champion appeared on a UK broadcast looking healthy but significantly thinner. He directly addressed viewers who had noticed his lengthy absence.
“I went through some real adversity,” Umenyiora said, via Pro Football Talk. “I was in the hospital for almost a month. I was in a coma for five days, had some extensive surgery. I was in a really, really bad place.
“And I find out right then and there who actually loved me. Because there were some people who showed up every single day. There were some people who came to see me when I was in a coma. There were some people who traveled from all across the world to come see me when I was at my lowest points.”
Umenyiora, 44, reserved special praise for his co-host and former Giants teammate Jason Bell.
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“This man right here was by my side,” he said of Bell. “I remember when I got up and I saw him for the first time, I just started crying because I could feel the love. So don’t you ever mistake what we got going on up here for something that’s not real because this is real, and I love you, J Bell. I really, really appreciate everything you did. They told me that when I heard your voice, my heart rate started to spike, which was absolutely incredible. I love you, J Bell.”
Umenyiora did not disclose specifics about the medical condition but expressed optimism about his recovery and continued role in UK NFL coverage.
