Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif CQ (French: [lɔʁɑ̃ dyvɛʁne taʁdif]; born February 11, 1991) is a Canadian former gridiron football guard. He played university football and attended medical school at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, before being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and playing six years on the team.[2] Duvernay-Tardif is one of a small number of NFL players to graduate from medical school.[3][4][5][6] He was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 2019 and enrolled at Harvard University to get a Master of Public Health degree the following year.
No. 76, 72
February 11, 1991
Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
321 lb (146 kg)
Collège Saint-Hilaire (Mont-Saint-Hilaire)
2014 / Round: 6 / Pick: 200
2014 / Round: 3 / Pick: 19
68
68
64
Duvernay-Tardif opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to Canada to work in a care facility. As a result of his efforts on and off the field in 2020, he was named a co-winner of the Lou Marsh Award, given annually to Canada's top athlete, as well as the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year. He returned to the NFL in 2021 after being traded to the New York Jets for two seasons.
He announced his retirement from the NFL on 21 September 2023.[7]
Early life[edit]
Duvernay-Tardif was born in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, and grew up in Montreal. He started playing football at the age of 14, until his family went on a year long sailing trip to the Bahamas. After their return, he resumed playing football at age 16 for his high school. His native language is French.[8][9]
University career[edit]
Duvernay-Tardif attended McGill University, where he was member of the McGill Men's football team from 2010 to 2013. In his final year, he won the J. P. Metras Trophy, recognizing the best lineman in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (now U Sports) system, and was named an All-Canadian for the second consecutive season.[10]
Freshman Year (2010): attended training practice at 253lbs and played as defensive line as #92. He dressed for six out of nine games and started three games.
Sophomore Year (2011): attended training practice at 280lbs and played as offensive line as #66. He dressed and started for all nine games at OT, playing two-ways.
Junior Year (2012): attended training practice at 305lbs. He dressed and started for all nine games at OT, playing two-ways.
Senior Year (2013): attending training practice at 315lbs. He dressed and started for all eight games at OT.[11]
He balanced university football with medical school. In a 2014 article in Sports Illustrated, Joan Niesen said that he "was practicing just once a week—and he was still the best college player in Canada."[12][a]
Personal life[edit]
Duvernay-Tardif graduated from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in May 2018 with a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (M.D., C.M.). He primarily studied during the off-season prior to mandatory off-season workouts.[48] He had the support of the Chiefs coaching staff, especially head coach Andy Reid, whose mother also graduated from McGill's medical school.[49] Following his graduation, he petitioned the NFL to add the title "M.D." on the back of his jersey. The league denied his request, prompting fans and writers to criticize the league's decision.[50] He has not yet completed his postgraduate medical training. Duvernay-Tardif provided the convocation address at McGill's 2020 graduation ceremony.[51] In 2020, he also started studying at Harvard University to get a Master of Public Health.[52]
During the 2018 offseason, Duvernay-Tardif worked as a feature reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) during its coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics.[49] He is also a member of the NFLPA Health and Safety Committee to protect the health of players.[23]
In 2019, Duvernay-Tardif was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec.[53] He is the grandson of former Quebec cabinet minister Guy Tardif.[54]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Duvernay-Tardif wanted to help combat the pandemic and returned to Quebec to work at CHSLD Gertrude-Lafrance, a long-term care facility in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.[55] He was profiled in a TSN documentary, "Front Line", which was later nominated for the best sports feature segment at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards.