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The Kansas City Chiefs cancelled all team activities on Thursday after defensive lineman BJ Thompson suffered a cardiac arrest during a team meeting. The 25-year-old experienced a seizure during a special teams meeting before going into cardiac arrest. He was promptly treated by the team's medical staff and transported to the hospital, where he is now in stable condition.
The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. CT, shortly before the scheduled start of voluntary on-field Organized Team Activities at 11:20 a.m. First responders from the Kansas City Fire Department arrived quickly on the scene. The Chiefs, led by head coach Andy Reid, decided to cancel Thursday's practice session, postponing it to the following day. Coach Reid and select players are expected to address the media on Friday.
Thompson, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, played college football at Baylor and Stephen F. Austin. He was inactive for most of his rookie season but made his debut in the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, recording two tackles. Though he did not participate in the playoffs, he earned a Super Bowl ring when the Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers in February.
According to ESPN’s Adam Teicher and the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Chiefs medical staff acted swiftly during the emergency. Pelissero reported, “The team’s medical staff worked quickly, an ambulance was called and the player is currently in stable condition.”
The Chiefs are preparing for their mandatory minicamp, which begins on June 11. The team's OTAs, which included participation from key players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, were initially set to wrap up on Thursday. The Chiefs offseason has seen both highs and lows, including their visit to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory and various legal issues faced by some players.
