Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman B.J. Thompson reportedly had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting on Thursday.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Thompson is now in stable condition after being attended to by the team’s medical staff and taken away in an ambulance.
#Chiefs DL BJ Thompson is in stable condition after suffering a seizure and going into cardiac arrest during a meeting this morning, per source.
A fifth-round pick in 2023 out of Stephen F. Austin, Thompson appeared in one game as a rookie for the Super Bowl champs. https://t.co/aGTzMF7F7H
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 6, 2024
According to ESPN’s Adam Teicher, Thompson was taken to an area hospital.
The Chiefs postponed today's practice after a medical emergency. One of their players was taken by ambulance to an area hospital and is in stable condition.
The Chiefs will practice tomorrow instead.
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) June 6, 2024
A fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Thompson appeared in one game and recorded two tackles for the Chiefs during the 2023 season. He did not appear in a playoff game.
It’s certainly a scary situation for the Chiefs and Thompson, and he will hopefully be able to make a full recovery and return to the field at some point for Kansas City in the near future.
This isn’t the first NFL player to suffer cardiac arrest, as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered one after taking a hit to the chest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2022 season. Hamlin missed the rest of the season, but he returned to the Bills in the 2023 campaign, completing a remarkable comeback.
Player safety in the NFL has become an important point of emphasis over the years when it comes to concussions and other injuries that could be sustained during a game or practice.
In this case for the Chiefs, shutting down practice after the medical emergency for Thompson surely allowed players some time to decompress and support their teammate after such a scary incident.
Kansas City is looking to make NFL history in the 2024 season, as no team has ever won three straight Super Bowls. The Chiefs are nearly there after winning the last two Super Bowls against the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
The Chiefs also bolstered their roster on Thursday, bringing back Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman on a one-year deal.
Chiefs to re-sign WR Mecole Hardman to one-year deal. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/VJHqo2thqI
— NFL (@NFL) June 6, 2024
Hardman reeled in the game-winning touchdown catch in the Super Bowl last season for Kansas City in overtime.
THE CHIEFS ARE BACK-TO-BACK SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/ZzfhTyUXg9
— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2024
Led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs are expected to be one of the better teams in the NFL once again in the 2024 season – as long as Mahomes stays healthy.
While organized team activities are just a small part of the offseason program for NFL teams (things will ramp up even more when training camp rolls around), it’s a good way to get an early read on a team and how it is functioning.
Hopefully, Kansas City will be able to provide a positive update on Thompson in the coming days as he recovers from the cardiac arrest.
