Chiefs DL BJ Thompson responsive following seizure, cardiac arrest
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman BJ Thompson is awake and responsive one day after suffering a seizure and going into cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Friday, per Thompson’s agent.
Rick Burkholder, Chiefs Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance, informed reporters on Friday that Thompson was heavily sedated at a local hospital on Thursday night after the incident. He was also placed on a ventilator to aid his breathing, but it has since been removed.
“Burkholder confirmed that he’s awake and alert, and moving in the absolute right direction,”
Burkholder explained the scary situation on Thursday, and noted that kicker Harrison Butker alerted the medical staff of Thompson’s condition when the seizure began.
Burkholder stated that Thompson went into cardiac arrest, prompting the staff to perform CPR and use a defibrillator once.
“Burkholder said that everyone involved, including our players, security staff, coaches, and staff, handled the crisis phenomenally,”
Burkholder further mentioned that the league requires teams to rehearse their emergency action plans several times annually, and coincidentally, the Chiefs had just conducted such a drill on Monday.
“Indeed, it’s a difficult situation. I’ve experienced a few such instances in the past and they’re never enjoyable,” shared Chiefs head coach, Andy Reid, with reporters on Friday. “However, if it had to occur, there’s no better place than here, where he has the supportive environment that knows how to handle it.”
Following the incident, all team activities scheduled for Thursday were cancelled by the Chiefs.
Thompson, who was a fifth-round pick in 2023, played in one game during his rookie season.
The current Super Bowl champions are now in Phase 3 of their voluntary offseason program. The mandatory minicamp is set to start on Tuesday.
