A KANSAS City Chiefs defensive lineman sent a heartwarming message on social media.

The Chiefs player celebrated his birthday after surviving a life-threatening situation last summer.

BJ Thompson #53 of the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman BJ Thompson walks off the field during a game against the Arizona Cardinals in 2023

Man lying in a hospital bed attached to medical equipment.
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Thompson has made a full recovery after experiencing a seizure during a team meeting and going into cardiac arrest last summerCredit: Instagram
Last June, Chiefs defender BJ Thompson was hospitalized after suffering a seizure and going into cardiac arrest during a team meeting.

The 2023 fifth-round pick was in the meeting room before the Chiefs were tasked with their final voluntary workout of the offseason.

Once Thompson began having a seizure, kicker Harrison Butler quickly went to the trainer’s room to inform the medical staff.

The Stephen F. Austin product was placed on a ventilator and transported to a local hospital but made a full recovery.

On Monday, Thompson posted three pictures on his 26th birthday on Instagram.

One of the pics showed him lying in a hospital bed and attached to a ventilator after the health scare.

The other two snaps displayed Thompson, who appeared to be on vacation.

Thompson wrote the Instagram caption, “Almost lost my life at 25… Still blessed to see 26.”

Fans expressed their admiration of Thompson’s journey to recovering from the health incident.

“Congrats on making it thru bro [clapping emoji]” one wrote.

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“Happy birthday BJ!!! Glad you’re doing much better, that was a scare,” a second commented.

“A blessing. More life b,” a third added.

Thompson’s recovery came during the 2024 campaign.

He started the season on the non-football illness list and didn’t play for the Chiefs, who lost in Super Bowl 59 last month.


Thompson may make the trip to the White House next month.

President Donald Trump revealed over the weekend that he will host the Chiefs after a visit by the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles.

The Chiefs’ visit would make up for 2020 when they didn’t visit the White House after their Super Bowl win because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Eagles will visit the White House on April 28, but the Chiefs’ visit has yet to be scheduled.

Thompson appeared in one game during his 2023-24 rookie campaign, posting two tackles.

He was part of a Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning team when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers.