There was some troubling news that came in the NFL world on Thursday morning, with news being reported out of Kansas City Chiefs camp that practice had been canceled for the day after a player suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest during a team meeting.
That player was later identified as BJ Thompson, a defensive lineman entering his second year with the team. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Thompson was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, but was in stable condition.
Now, several hours later, a new report has come out updating the situation. It appears that Thompson is still unconscious, but his vitals are doing well.
From #Chiefs DE BJ Thompson’s agent, Chris Turnage, who visited Thompson in the hospital after he suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest today:
“BJ is still unconscious at this point, but he’s stable and vitals are good. His family asks for your continued prayers.” pic.twitter.com/iXP6SdbDUw
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 7, 2024
As this situation continues to unfold, we will try and stay updated on the latest reports and continue to monitor the health of Thompson.
🚨🚨BREAKING: #Chiefs DE BJ Thompson is in the hospital and is NOT CONSCIOUS but stable after he suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest today, according to his agent Chris Turnage.
The family is asking for everyone’s prayers.
🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/Yqa3EP6m9f
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 7, 2024
Kansas City Chiefs Player Who Suffered Cardiac Arrest At Practice Today Has Been Identified
The Kansas City Chiefs player who suffered cardiac arrest this Thursday has been identified.
The reigning Super Bowl champions were forced to postpone their OTAs today following a serious medical emergency first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
According to the aforementioned source, an unnamed defensive lineman suffered a seizure and entered cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting. The team’s staff worked quickly, providing first aid. The player was then taken to hospital and is said to be stable.
Pelissero has since identified the player as BJ Thompson.
“Chiefs DL BJ Thompson is in stable condition after suffering a seizure and going into cardiac arrest during a meeting this morning, per source,” the NFL Media reporter added to his initial post.
“A fifth-round pick in 2023 out of Stephen F. Austin, Thompson appeared in one game as a rookie for the Super Bowl champs.”
The Chiefs player who went into Cardiac arrest was BJ Thompson. He is now in stable condition at the hospital. pic.twitter.com/RUD2y9EPhO
— Chiefs Hive (@chiefshive) June 6, 2024
The Kansas City Chiefs Have Pushed Today’s Activities Back A Day
The Kansas City Chiefs were scheduled to hold their last OTA of the week this Thursday after practices on Tuesday and Wednesday but have had to postpone the session, as well as a meeting with the media. Those have been pushed back to Friday.
Thompson, who played one game for the Chiefs last season, was a fifth-round pick out of Stephen F. Austin in 2023.
The team is expected to kick off its mandatory minicamp on June 11. It will run until June 13. They will then return to break until training camp begins in late July.
Our thoughts remain with Thompson. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Kansas City Chiefs player BJ Thompson ‘is STILL unconscious’ after cardiac arrest, his agent reveals as his family ‘asks for continued prayers’
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end BJ Thompson’s agent, Christ Turnage, provided an update on his condition after suffering a cardiac arrest at a team meeting on Thursday.
The Chiefs had to postpone OTA practice when Thompson had a seizure in a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest.
After visiting his client, Turnage reported that Thompson is unconscious but in stable condition.
‘BJ is still unconscious at this point, but he’s stable and vitals are good,’ Turnage said, per Tom Pelissero. ‘His family asks for your continued prayers.’
Pelissero also reported the news on Thursday morning.
BJ Thompson had a seizure in a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest Thursday
‘The Chiefs canceled all team activities today after a backup defensive lineman had a seizure in a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest, per sources,’ Pelissero wrote on X.
‘The team’s medical staff worked quickly, an ambulance was called and the player is currently in stable condition.’
While Thompson was in stable condition, the Chiefs pushed through with a charity softball event on Thursday evening.
Justin Reid and Trey Smith hosted the second annual Kansas City charity softball game, formerly organized by Marquez Valdes-Scantling – who was traded to the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
While head coach Andy Reid has yet to speak to the media about the situation, he expected to address it on Friday. However, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke about his player’s condition.
‘Let me say this before I say anything, I’m thinking about BJ right now,’ Spagnuolo volunteered before taking questions from reporters, via Fox4KC.
The 25-year-old Thompson has played once for the Chiefs since being drafted in 2023
Last week, Thompson was at the White House, where the Chiefs celebrated Super Bowl victory
Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke out on his condition
‘It was scary. I think the guys were a little bit scared, I know I was. But a lot of praying and [head athletic trainer] Rick [Burkholder] and his staff did a terrific job.’
He added that he wasn’t in the room when it happened, Spagnuolo praised the staffers who stepped in to help.
‘But everybody you know, to a man to a person to a woman, because we have some female trainers, they were terrific, they did a great job. So we’ll keep our fingers crossed. I’ll let Andy handle the rest of that.’
Thompson was a fifth-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2023 from Stephen F. Austin University in Texas. He has played once for the team, against the Chargers in January – the final game of the regular season.
Thompson was part of the Chiefs team that visited the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl title with President Joe Biden last week. He shared several pictures from the visit to his Instagram account and joked in the caption that the trip ‘got me feeling like the president.’
Chiefs stars Justin Reid and Trey Smith went ahead with their charity softball event Thursday
Thompson pictured celebrating in Las Vegas when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl this year
Speaking to media after being picked by the Chiefs last May, the Arkansas native said: ‘I just want to put on for my town and show them that anything is possible, no matter where you come from. Hopefully, I am accomplishing that.
‘Me and my friends, we all had dreams and goals of NFL, NBA but along the lines, dreams kind of die off and people get other plans.
‘For me, it never really did. I always had in the back of my head I was going to play professional sports and I was blessed enough to make it happen.’
