After a health scare kept New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore off the field for 13 games in the 2024 season, the former Alabama standout had the “green light” throughout the NFL team’s offseason program.

“It’s a blessing of God, man,” Barmore said during the Patriots’ mandatory minicamp. “… He never gave up on me. Just kept working hard, you know, and I kept my faith in God.”

With its 2024 training camp getting started, New England announced Barmore had been diagnosed with blood clots. Barmore did not practice again with his teammates until Nov. 14 and missed the first 10 games of the season.

On Nov. 17, Barmore returned to the field with 21 defensive snaps in the Patriots’ 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Then after Barmore played in four games and reached 36 snaps in a 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 15, New England placed him on reserve/non-football injury because of “recurring symptoms that required further evaluation” related to the ailment.

“That stuff I went through, man, I would never ever want nobody to go through that,” Barmore said. “You know, like I said earlier, like, that stuff, imagine somebody stopping you from breathing, and literally, like, stopping you, like, literally. Like, now I can breathe again. Now, you know, lungs opened up. So what’s up?”

Barmore joined New England from Alabama’s 2020 undefeated CFP national-championship team in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After playing in every game as a rookie, Barmore played in 10 in 2022 because of injuries.

In 2023, Barmore reached career highs with 64 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits and six pass breakups.

Barmore said in 2025 he hopes to “prove that I’m still me.”

After a 4-13 showing in 2024, New England has a new coach in 2025, with former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel bringing a defensive scheme that calls for more attacking play from the three-man line.

“I love it,” Barmore said. “Really love it. And it just, you know, psychs me every time, man.”

In addition to Barmore’s return, the Patriots added to their defensive line by signing Milton Williams in free agency after he helped the Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LIX.

“Milton’s dominant,” Barmore said. “And, you know, for me, it’s just, like: How are we going to just come and roll and take over the game? That’s our goal. How the D-line going to take over? You know, the game won up front, so that’s our goal every time we’re on that field.”

Now on their summer break, the Patriots’ training camp begins on July 19, when the rookies report, with the veterans following on July 22. New England’s three-game preseason starts on Aug. 8 against the Washington Commanders.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.