Hometown of Arkansan Kansas City Chiefs player BJ Thompson shows love and support ahead of Super Bowl LVIII
ENGLAND, Ark. – Many in Arkansas have their team they’re rooting for during the Super Bowl, but for those in the small town of England, Arkansas, the community has rallied behind a specific player.
BJ Thompson was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023 during the 5th round and is now on the road to the Super Bowl.
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Thompson’s former high school teacher, Brittany Robinson said, “in England, we are all going to root for BJ.”
The Super Bowl will feature a faceoff between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Some in England said their eyes will be extra focused on the defensive end rookie Thompson.
Thompson went to England High School where he played football, basketball and track. His grandmother Annie Thompson said it’s exciting to see how far he has come.
“It’s awesome. I tell him all the time if he plays or doesn’t play, win or lose or draw, I got you,” Thompson said.
Thompson’s brother Blake Mack, who was also on the Chiefs roster in 2018, said he couldn’t be prouder of his brother.
“I Facetimed him right after the AFC Championship game and he was happy,” Mack said. “It also drives him to be the best he can be when he sees he has an entire state behind him”
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One of Thompson’s biggest supporters in his former high school, the home of the England Lions. Brett Mount is one of Thompson’s former coaches and he said even when he was young Thompson had star quality and leadership skills.
“He is a better person off the field than on,” Mount said. “He is as an athlete so seeing him reach that level of success is really nice to see.”
The long-awaited achievement is something his former high school teammate Darius Clarkson said Thomspon has earned.
“When he spoke everyone heard him and it made it believable like what he was saying was something we could believe in,” Clarkson added. “Dreams do come true, it’s all about the pursuit and angles you take to get there but it’s definitely possible and that’s what he showed this small town.”
Current high schooler Dallas Woods, who also plays many of the sports Thompson did, said Thompson’s achievements give him motivation.
“I want to go to college, get all my degrees and get drafted to the NFL just like he did,” Woods said.
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Thompson’s grandma said she along with the entire community will be rooting for him on Sunday.
Students at the high school are also planning on making an honor wall for Thompson and the school plans to celebrate during the week of the Super Bowl.
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