National Football League

Chiefs' BJ Thompson released from hospital after suffering cardiac event, seizure

Updated Jun. 11, 2024 9:27 a.m. ET

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman BJ Thompson is on the mend after experiencing a cardiac event and a seizure earlier in June.

Thompson has been released from the hospital, his agent Chris Turnage shared with NFL Media late Monday night.

"The family thanks everyone for their prayers and wants to especially thank the Chiefs medical and training staff for their rapid response and professionalism throughout this situation," Turnage said in a statement.

Thompson was rushed to the hospital after suffering a seizure and undergoing a cardiac event during a team meeting on June 6. Team trainers and medical staff reacted quickly and treated Thompson until paramedics arrived, according to The Associated Press.

"That’s a tough situation. We’ve been through a couple of those before in my time and it’s never, ever fun," Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters on Friday. "Thank goodness. I mean, if it had to happen, no better place than right here where you have a support unit that knows what to do."

Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder also explained to reporters exactly what happened to Thompson.

"We tried to stabilize BJ and then put him on the floor while he was still seizing, and then he went into cardiac arrest," Burkholder said. "Our team of that group of people provided CPR for him. He had one AED shock and came back so he was only in cardiac arrest for probably less than a minute, minute-and-a-half. Our players, our security staff, everybody involved, coaches, staff, they were phenomenal in handling the crisis. We then turn him over to the fire department and the paramedics. Those paramedics do those practice sessions with us so there was some familiarity there with those guys."

The 27-year-old Thompson was a fifth-round pick of the Chiefs out of Stephen F. Austin in last year's draft. The only game Thompson appeared in last season was the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, when Kansas City already had clinched its playoff spot. Thompson had two tackles in that game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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