Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker played a critical role in a life-saving effort during a frightening episode at practice.
On Thursday afternoon, during a Chiefs practice session, backup defensive end BJ Thompson experienced a seizure followed by cardiac arrest.
Chiefs head trainer Rick Burkholder detailed the immediate response, praising Butker for his quick action. “Butker was the first to react; he sprinted to the training room to alert us. As a team, we worked to stabilize BJ, laying him down while he was seizing. We administered CPR and one AED shock, which revived him. He was likely in cardiac arrest for less than ninety seconds. Our players, security staff, and everyone involved handled the crisis exceptionally well,” Burkholder explained.
RELATED: Travis Kelce Reveals Chiefs Potential Plans to Replace Harrison Butker
Thankfully, the situation has a positive outlook. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that BJ Thompson is now awake and responsive.
His agent, Chris Turnage, confirmed that despite the severity of the incident during a special teams meeting, the second-year pro’s condition has significantly improved, and his prognosis is encouraging.
