BJ Thompson gave the impression to be recovering Thursday, and he has a teammate to thank for saving his life.
The Kansas City Chiefs defensive finish had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest throughout a staff assembly Thursday morning.
Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs’ vp of sports activities medication and efficiency, mentioned the staff held a gathering earlier within the week about “eventualities like” Thompson’s emergency.
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Harrison Butker of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs arrives at Allegiant Stadium earlier than the Tremendous Bowl in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Luke Hales/Getty Photos)
Throughout Thursday’s assembly, when Thompson had a seizure, it was Harrison Butker who alerted the staff’s medical personnel.
“When he had the seizure, Butker instantly ran in direction of the coaching room and grabbed [assistant athletic trainers] Julie Frymyer and David Glover after which grabbed me, and we went into the room,” Burkholder told the NFL Network Friday.
“As a staff, we tried to stabilize BJ and put him on the ground whereas he was nonetheless seizing,” Burkholder added. “Then he went into cardiac arrest. Our staff of that group of individuals offered CPR for him. He had one AD shock and got here again, so he was solely in cardiac arrest for lower than a minute, minute and a half.
“Our gamers, our safety employees — everyone concerned, coaches and employees — they have been phenomenal in dealing with the disaster.”
BJ Thompson of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs walks off the sphere throughout a sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium Aug. 19, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (Ric Tapia/Getty Photos)
CHIEFS’ BJ THOMPSON ‘AWAKE AND RESPONSIVE’ AFTER SEIZURE, CARDIAC ARREST: AGENT
Butker has develop into a polarizing determine in current weeks because of a graduation speech he gave at Benedictine School, the place he urged ladies graduates to embrace being a “homemaker” and criticized the LGBTQ group and President Biden for his stance on abortion.
Within the speech, Butker added, “Issues like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, in addition to a rising help for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of dysfunction.”
Butker attended the Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl celebration on the White Home final week.
And his jersey gross sales have skyrocketed on NFL Store, whereas many within the media stay break up concerning the speech.
Thompson’s agent mentioned Friday Thompson is “awake and responsive.”
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs defensive finish BJ Thompson (53) throughout the first half in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. (Orlando Ramirez/USA Immediately Sports activities)
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Thompson is coming into his second season with the Chiefs after being chosen within the fifth spherical of the NFL Draft. He appeared in a single sport throughout his rookie season in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18, and he registered two tackles.
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