Kansas City Chiefs Player Released From Hospital After Cardiac Arrest At Team Meeting

Kansas City Chiefs’ BJ Thompson has been released from the hospital after the young player suffered a medical emergency and went into cardiac arrest during a team meeting last week.

On Monday, the 25-year-old second-year defensive end was discharged from the hospital four days after suffering a seizure and going into cardiac arrest, his agent Chris Turnage told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, calling it a significant step forward in the Chiefs player’s recovery.

“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.

Last week during a special teams meeting, Thompson had a life-threatening incident and had to be rushed to the hospital. He was put on a ventilator overnight before recovering the next day, WhiskeyRiff.com noted.

More good news: Four days after suffering a seizure and going into cardiac arrest during a meeting, #Chiefs DL BJ Thompson was released from the hospital tonight, per his agent Chris Turnage. A significant step for Thompson, who continues to progress on the road to recovery. pic.twitter.com/1bk2lscONJ

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 11, 2024

On Friday, Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder revealed that Thompson’s teammate kicker Harrison Butker was instrumental in alerting the training staff that Thompson was in trouble, as previously reported.

“Butker immediately ran towards the training room and grabbed [assistant athletic trainers] Julie Frymyer and David Glover and then grabbed me, and we went into the room,” Burkholder told the press.

“As a team, we tried to stabilize BJ and put him on the floor while he was still seizing,” he added. “Then he went into cardiac arrest. 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 and staff — they were phenomenal in handling the crisis,” Burkholder continued.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters that it was a “tough situation,” but that Thompson was fortunate to have suffered the medical emergency where he did and not somewhere else.

“Thank goodness though, if it had to happen, no better place then right here where he had the support that knows what to do,” he added.

Thompson was drafted by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas.

Related: LeBron James’ Son Suffers Cardiac Arrest During Basketball Workout