Peyton Hillis 'on road to recovery' one week after saving kids from drowning

Hillis' girlfriend -- singer and actress Angela Cole -- wrote on her Instagram page Wednesday night that the 36-year-old former Arkansas Razorback was off the ventilator. She added: "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."

According to TMZ Sports, Hillis was helicoptered to a Florida hospital on Jan. 4 after he reportedly "jumped into the ocean on Pensacola Beach in order to save two of his children who were caught in riptides." His uncle, Greg Hillis, wrote in a Facebook post that the former "Madden" cover athlete suffered kidney and lung damage as a result of the rescue, and family and friends had held a prayer vigil for him in recent days.

Hillis was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft and spent the first two seasons of his career in the "Mile High City" before being traded to the Cleveland Browns in March 2010. 

Hillis had by far his best year in 2010 with the Browns, posting career highs across the board in games played (16) and started (14), as well as rushing attempts (270), rushing yards (1,177), rushing touchdowns (11), targets (77), receptions (61), receiving yards (477) and receiving touchdowns (two).

He played one more season in Cleveland in 2011, before wrapping up his career with one season with the Kansas City Chiefs and two years with the New York Giants. Hillis scored 26 total touchdowns in his 81-game career, but the biggest play of his life came last week on that beach in Florida.