Chiefs’ BJ Thompson Released from Hospital 4 Days After Suffering Cardiac Arrest

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVJune 11, 2024

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive end BJ Thompson was released from the hospital Monday just four days after he suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the news, calling it “a significant step for Thompson, who continues to progress on the road to recovery.”

Thompson’s agent, Chris Turnage, provided an update and said, “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.”

On Friday, ESPN’s Adam Teicher reported that Thompson went into cardiac arrest Thursday during a special teams meeting.

Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder said the defensive end was treated by the team’s trainers and medical staff at first before he was transported to the hospital.

Burkholder also explained that Thompson was sedated Thursday and placed on a ventilator overnight to help with his breathing.

Yet by Friday he said Thompson was removed from the ventilator, conscious and “coming through quite well [and] headed in the absolute right direction.”

Thompson was in the special teams meeting in preparation for his second season in the league.

Kansas City selected him with a fifth-round pick in last year’s draft, and he appeared in one game as a rookie. That one game was the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, and he tallied two tackles in a 13-12 victory.