Yesterday, the Kansas City Chiefs had to cancel their practice due to a medical emergency involving one of their players. During a special teams meeting on Thursday, backup defensive end BJ Thompson experienced a seizure and subsequently went into cardiac arrest. The Chiefs’ medical team responded swiftly until an ambulance arrived. Initial reports on Thursday indicated that Thompson was in stable condition. Now, his agent has provided further information about his status.
Chris Turnage, Thompson’s agent, visited him in the hospital and shared an update on his condition.
“BJ is still unconscious at this point, but he’s stable and vitals are good,” Turnage told NFL insider Tom Pelissero. “His family asks for your continued prayers.”
BJ Thompson was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. In 2021 and 2022, Thompson was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection, demonstrating strong performance as a pass rusher in both seasons. His exceptional athletic testing during the pre-draft process in 2023 increased his appeal to NFL teams. Although projected by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein as a seventh-round pick or priority undrafted free agent, the Chiefs chose him in the fifth round.
In his rookie season, Thompson appeared in just one game for the Chiefs.
This medical emergency occurred shortly after the Chiefs’ celebratory visit to the White House for their Super Bowl 58 victory.
The Chiefs are set to begin their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. Thompson faces significant competition for a depth position at defensive end upon his return. The most plausible outcome is that he secures a spot on Kansas City’s practice squad.
Meanwhile, questions linger about the future of another Chiefs player, Travis Kelce.
Travis Kelce’s brother, Jason Kelce, recently retired from the NFL. With a burgeoning career outside of football and his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift, it’s reasonable to speculate when Travis Kelce might consider retirement.
Kelce discussed retirement on his popular “New Heights” podcast after his brother Jason shared insights from his own NFL retirement experience with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I’m still getting used to it,” Jason Kelce remarked. “It feels weird not going into the building and just the little conversations you have. You’ll realize it, Trav, once it’s gone.”
Travis Kelce responded emphatically, asserting that he’s “never going to retire” from football. He also referenced Jason’s emotional retirement speech that gained widespread attention on social media.
“I’m never doing it,” Travis Kelce said. “Not after that speech, dude. No, (expletive) that. I don’t want to go through that.”
This aligns with Kelce’s previous statements regarding his football career. Last year, he expressed similar sentiments about not wanting to retire.
“Until the wheels fall off, baby,” Kelce said last June regarding his NFL future. “I love this game and I know I’m going to miss it when I’m done playing. But right now, I’m in this building wanting to win football games, man.”
