After experiencing a medical emergency last week, Kansas City Chiefs' BJ Thompson has been released from the hospital.
During a team meeting last week, Thompson suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest. The Chiefs defensive end was later rushed to a hospital and put on a ventilator overnight, though recovered the next day. Thompson was later released from the hospital on Monday.
“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,” Thompson's agent, Chris Turnage, said in a statement. 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
Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder said last Friday that fellow Chiefs player Harrison Butker played an important role in alerting the team's training staff of Thompson's life-threatening incident.
“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.”
Burkholder went on to laud players, security staff, coaches, and others involved for "phenomenal" response to Thompson's medical emergency.
Head coach Andy Reid said the situation was "tough," though noted he was grateful Thompson suffered his medical emergency around his team, which was able to seek immediate medical attention.
“Thank goodness though, if it had to happen, no better place than right here where he had the support that knows what to do,” Reid said.
Butker, a Catholic, recently faced intense backlash after criticizing President Joe Biden, the LGBTQ community, and encouraging graduating women to embrace their role as a "homemaker" during his commencement speech at Benedictine College last month. The Chiefs kicker's remarks were panned by critics as "misogynistic," "homophobic," and "transphobic."
Fellow teammates Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, and Coach Andy Reid have publicly defended Butker's character and remarks, along with a series of other Catholic celebrities and media personalities.
Shortly after Butker's speech at Benedictine College, the NFL released a statement distancing itself from Butker's views expressed during his remarks.
"Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity," NFL's Senior Vice President Jonathan Beane told People Magazine. "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
