Blood Clots in Sports: What Happened to Chris Bosh and Steven Stamkos

Jalen Hurts’ blood-clot diagnosis brings renewed attention to a question other athletes have faced: whether they can return to competition. Chris Bosh and Steven Stamkos both played again after an initial episode, but their careers subsequently took different paths.

The Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, said Monday that he has deep vein thrombosis and blood clots in both lungs. They said he is clinically stable, expect a full recovery and anticipate he can resume contact football when off blood thinners. Their statement gave no return date.

Chris Bosh: A return, then a recurrence

Bosh’s first episode ended his 2014–15 season after blood clots were discovered in a lung. He returned for the start of the following season and played 53 games for Miami, averaging 19.1 points.

Another clot was discovered in his leg during the 2016 All-Star break. Bosh never played another NBA game. His last appearance was February 9, 2016, against San Antonio; Miami waived him in July 2017. The distinction matters: he came back from the first episode, but the recurrence ended his playing career.

Steven Stamkos: Back to the playoffs, then championships

Stamkos underwent surgery in April 2016 for a clot near his right collarbone. NHL.com identified the condition as vascular thoracic outlet syndrome.

He returned on May 26 for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final against Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay lost, but his career continued. He later captained the Lightning’s Stanley Cup champions in 2020 and 2021.

Those histories document different outcomes, not a timetable for Hurts. His team’s current guidance is specific: no contact activities, including football, while he receives anticoagulation treatment.