Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke out about BJ Thompson’s condition after the defensive lineman went into cardiac arrest Thursday.
The Chiefs had to postpone OTA practice earlier in the day when Thompson, 25, suffered a seizure during a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest.
Thompson is now said to be in stable condition in the hospital and Spagnuolo broke the team’s silence on the incident during a charity softball game hosted by Chiefs stars Justin Reid and Trey Smith on Thursday evening.
The defensive coordinator admitted the incident had left the team shaken, before insisting head coach Andy Reid will provide an official update later. Reid is expected to speak on the matter on Friday.
“Let me say this before I say anything, I’m thinking about BJ right now,” Spagnuolo volunteered before answering questions from reporters, via Fox4KC.
BJ Thompson suffered a seizure during a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest on Thursday
Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke out about his condition
‘It was scary. I think the boys were a little scared, I’m sure. But pray a lot and [head athletic trainer] Rick [Burkholder] and his staff has done a fantastic job.”
He added that he was not in the room when it happened because it took place during a special team meeting, but he praised staff who stepped in to help.
“But everyone you know, from male to person to female, because we have some female coaches, they’ve been great, they’ve done a great job. So we will keep our fingers crossed. I’ll let Andy handle the rest.’
Spagnuolo spoke at the second annual charity softball game in Kansas City, hosted by Reid and Smith, after Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who initially hosted the game, was traded to the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
Their Chiefs teammates came to Legends Field, where the Kansas City Monarchs play, to show their support.
The likes of Louis Rees-Zammit – the former Wales rugby international – Drue Tranquill, Jaden Hicks and Spagnuolo turned up for the attack versus defense event.
Chiefs stars Justin Reid and Trey Smith continued their charity softball event on Thursday
Thompson imagined himself celebrating in Las Vegas when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl this year
On the evening it was announced that $200,000 had been raised, with proceeds going to Reid and Smith’s respective foundations.
The charity event came after the team had to cancel their practice session on Thursday due to Thompson’s scare. According to The Athletic, the Chiefs will practice on Friday.
Thompson, 25, was a 2023 fifth-round draft pick by the Chiefs out of Stephen F. Austin University in Texas. He made one appearance for the team, against the Chargers in January, the final game of the regular season. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce missed that game, even though a spot in the playoffs had already been secured.
Last week, Thompson was part of the Chiefs team that visited the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl title with President Biden. He shared several photos of the visit on his Instagram account, joking in the caption that the trip “made me feel like the president.”