Tag: laurent duvernay tardif

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif out to show Chiefs he can still play after year away

#Chiefs OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif spoke about his new teammates on the offensive line and readjusting after a year away. | from @EdEastonJr

As the first week of training camp comes to an end for the Kansas City Chiefs, a few questions are answered from the offseason. One of the biggest wonders heading into camp is the status of the offensive line.

The Chiefs have kept it no secret that the offensive line was a priority heading into the season after the struggles in Super Bowl LV. The return of veteran offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has been a plus serving as the glue to a relatively new group. Duvernay-Tardif was a member of the Super Bowl-winning team but opted out of last season to help fight against COVID-19 back in his home country Canada.

The doctor spoke with reporters Saturday about his new teammates on the offensive line and readjusting after a year away.

”I mean, that’s why it’s so great to spend some time here in St. Joe because you get to bond with everybody,” said Duvernay-Tardif. “We’ve got a really cool group of guys and they’ve welcomed me in. Even though I’ve been here for the last eight years, I wasn’t here last year. So, it was good to build that chemistry, and I feel like now we’re pretty united.”

The Chiefs added many new names on the offensive line with hopes of solidifying the position. The new teammates are still building chemistry together in the early days of training camp, but Duvernay-Tardif feels they’ll be better as padded practices begin next week.

“I mean, it’s still a process. It’s always a process, especially because of the fact that I haven’t played for the last year, but I feel pretty good,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “Today was a good day and we just keep on building, and next week we’re going to put the pads on. And I’m looking forward to that. It’s really when you know where you’re at, you know?”

After a year away from the game, Duvernay-Tardif is finding it a bit more difficult to get back into the swing of things. But what is the most challenging to the eight-year veteran in his return to play?

“Everything, to be honest,” Duvernay-Tardif explained. “It’s always a challenge. Training camp is hard, physically and mentally. We’ve been pretty lucky that we’ve had some pretty good weather, other than it was a little hot at the beginning. It’s just making sure you compete every day. Show up with a great attitude. We have a really competitive group this year, and I think that it’s my job to show that I can still play, and I want to play.”

The depth of this team, combined with youth and experience will be essential this season, especially late in the year and heading into the playoffs.

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Laurent Duvernay-Tardif wins Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at 2021 ESPYs

#Chiefs OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif won this year’s Muhammad Sports Humanitarian Award at the 2021 ESPYs.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has been recognized for his decision to opt out of the 2020 NFL season to help fight the global COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday evening, Duvernay-Tardif was named the recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at the 2021 ESPYs. Renamed to honor Muhammad Ali in 2017, the award seeks to recognize an athlete who has a positive impact on their community through sports and leadership.

Duvernay-Tardif was nominated because of the immense personal risk to his health and football career that he took last year. He opted out of the NFL season to use his medical degree, becoming an orderly in the very early stages of the pandemic at a long-term care facility near his hometown outside of Montreal, Quebec.

Duvernay-Tardif earned a $25,000 grant to a charity of his choice just by being a finalist for this ESPYs award. Now that he’s won the award he’ll receive an additional $100,000 donation to a charitable cause of his choosing, possibly the Laurent Duvernay-Tardif foundation, which encourages physical activity and creativity in children.

Nominees for the 2021 award included Chicago Cubs’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Minnesota Lynx guard Layshia Clarendon, and WWE wrestler Titus O’Neil. Duvernay-Tardif joins previous winners such as MLB star Nelson Cruz, NBA star Kevin Durant and former Eagles DE Chris Long.

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Chiefs’ Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has 6th-best odds to win Comeback Player of the Year

#Chiefs RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif seems like a longshot for Comeback Player of the Year honors after opting out to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

After a year spent fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kansas City Chiefs will return a former starter from Super Bowl LIV during the 2021 NFL season.

Last season, Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif worked at a long-term care facility near his hometown in Quebec, Canada. He occupied a number of different roles and filled in where he was needed in one of the hardest-hit areas of care. Now, Duvernay-Tardif is back with the Chiefs after opting out of the 2020 NFL season. Some even believe that he’ll make a strong case to earn an annual NFL award, recognizing his perseverance in overcoming adversity.

BetMGM’s Sportsbook lists the former starting right guard with the sixth-best odds to take home the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award for 2021, with +1600 odds. Those listed ahead of Duvernay-Tardif are as follows:

  1. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (+180)
  2. Giants RB Saquon Barkley (+500)
  3. Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey (+600)
  4. Bengals QB Joe Burrow, 49ers DE Nick Bosa and Colts QB Carson Wentz (+800)
  5. Julio Jones (+1200)

Frankly, it’d take a lot for Duvernay-Tardif to come away with the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2021. He is at a significant disadvantage by not playing what is considered a “skill” position. The fact that he won’t be scoring any points and isn’t constantly in the limelight will be problematic.

Duvernay-Tardif also isn’t guaranteed a starting job in Kansas City, while all the other players listed ahead of him are secure in their jobs. That said, Duvernay-Tardif is highly motivated to prove himself and earn a starting role after spending a year away from the team.

“The last time I put a helmet on before today was at the Super Bowl in Miami and we won it,” said Duvernay-Tardif, following mandatory minicamp practices. “So there are great memories from playing football with these guys and I want to build that chemistry back and hopefully get a starting job in order to contribute to the team this year.”

The odds appear to be stacked against Duvernay-Tardif here, but stranger things have happened in the world of football. If he can earn a starting job during training camp, he’ll have already persevered when faced with significant adversity.

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Chiefs’ Laurent Duvernay-Tardif finalist for Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award

Duvernay-Tardif is one of four finalists for the award.

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Just days after making his return to the Kansas City Chiefs, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has been named a finalist for a humanitarian award.

Doctor Duvernay-Tardif put his NFL career on hold in 2020, opting out of the NFL season to work in a long-term care facility near his hometown of Montreal, Quebec. He spent time working as an orderly, a nurse and resident fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic in one of the hardest-hit areas of care.

The Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman’s selfless decision is now being recognized by as Duvernay-Tardif has been named among four finalists for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in the 2021 ESPYs. Here is ESPN’s description of the award:

“The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award is given to an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a measured positive impact on their community through sports. The candidate must embrace the core principals that Muhammad Ali embodied so well, including confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and respect.”

ESPN says they’re recognizing Duvernay-Tardif as a finalist because of “his conviction to combat a virus the world knew very little about at the onset of the pandemic risked his own personal health and football career.” He’s also being recognized for serving on the NFLPA’s COVID-19 task force during the 2020 NFL season and for his creation of the Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Foundation, which promotes physical activity and creativity in youth.

The other finalists for this year’s award include Chicago Cubs’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Minnesota Lynx guard Layshia Clarendon, and WWE wrestler Titus O’Neil. Previous award winners include Minnesota Twins RF Nelson Cruz, Philadelphia Eagles DE Chris Long (brother of Chiefs’ Kyle Long), and NBA forward Kevin Durant.

Each finalist for this award will receive a $25,000 grant for a charitable cause of their choosing. The winner. who will be revealed during the ESPYs Award Show on Saturday, July 10, will receive an additional $100,000 donation.

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6 players to watch at Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp

Keep an eye on these six players as the Kansas City Chiefs get mandatory minicamp underway.

The Kansas City Chiefs kick off their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.

While practices won’t be open to the public until training camp begins in July, traditionally there tends to be more information coming out of practices beginning around mandatory minicamp. Below you’ll find a quick look at some of the players that you should be keeping an eye on throughout the next three days.

Report: Chiefs RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, RB Damien Williams expected back in 2021

The players who opted out in 2020, will opt back in for the 2021 season according to a new report.

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to return two key contributors during the 2021 NFL season. According to a new report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and RB Damien Williams both expect to return to the Chiefs and play in 2021.

Duvernay-Tardif, who opted out of the 2020 NFL season to work in a long-term care facility near his hometown in Canada, had already confirmed that he intends to be back next season. This is the first that we’ve heard of Williams returning to action, though. Williams opted out to take care of his mother who is battling stage 4 cancer. He, of course, played a prominent role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV win a season ago.

Both players returning to action in 2021 would be a big boost to the offense. Duvernay-Tardif would provide another veteran option to an offensive line that has battled through injury and adversity throughout the 2020 season. Williams would give the Chiefs another dynamic option out of the backfield to pair with RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, bolstering depth at a position that could lose a few pieces to free agency.

There’s currently no news on rookie OT Lucas Niang, but given the latest about these two veteran players, it’s safe to assume that he’ll be back for Kansas City too.

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Chiefs OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif co-winner of Lou Marsh Trophy

The Lou Marsh Trophy is awarded to the top Canadian athlete each year.

Kansas City Chiefs OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has been recognized once again by his home country for his athletic excellence.

The Lou Marsh Trophy is awarded annually to the best Canadian athlete. This year, Duvernay-Tardif was named co-winner of the award alongside Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies. This marks the third time in the illustrious history that the award voting has ended in a tie, with 18 votes going to each of Davies and Duvernay-Tardif.

Duvernay-Tardif, 29, was a sixth-round draft pick by the Chiefs in the 2014 NFL draft. He eventually worked his way up to become the starting right guard for the team, while simultaneously attending medical school. The offensive lineman became the first player to opt-out ahead of the 2020 NFL season, remaining in Canada working in a long-term care facility, helping to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2019-2020 season, Duvernay-Tardif was the starting right guard for the Chiefs, helping them achieve greatness with their Super Bowl LIV win.

Some previous winners of the award include NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, Olympic gold medalist Nancy Greene, MLB star Joey Votto, and NBA legend Steve Nash. Duvernay-Tardif becomes the first NFL player to ever receive the Lou Marsh Trophy. He’s the first football player to win the award since Calgary Stampeders RB Jon Cornish won the award in 2013.

Duvernay-Tardif was also recently recognized for his activism off the field, being one of two Chiefs players named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year. His decision to opt-out helped spark a movement of retired nurses, doctors and health care professionals returning to assist at long-term care facilities across Canada and the United States.

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2 Kansas City Chiefs players earned SI’s Sportsperson of the Year honors

Patrick Mahomes and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif are being recognized for their impact on and off the field.

Two members of the Kansas City Chiefs are among the five athletes that have been named Sports Illustrated’s 2020 Sportsperson of the Year. The magazine recognized five athletes who became champions on and off the field in 2020, emphasizing their activism. Patrick Mahomes and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif were the two Chiefs players to be recognized by SI, joining LeBron James, Breanna Stewart and Naomi Osaka to round out the group of five.

Mahomes, of course, was recognized for using his platform to stand up for the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd’s death. His participation in a viral video with other NFL athletes helped to bring meaningful change to the league and beyond.

Duvernay-Tardif was recognized for hanging up his cleats and putting on his scrubs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A season after becoming a Super Bowl champion, he opted out to work as an orderly near his hometown in Canada.

Duvernay-Tardif reacted to being named Sportsperson of the Year on Twitter, dedicating the award to healthcare professionals who continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s quite impressive for the Chiefs organization to have not one, but two players earning this award in 2020. They’re the only NFL players recognized for the award this year. Hopefully, it’ll inspire others to get involved and use their platforms to promote positive change in our communities.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame displays Chiefs RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s scrubs, lab coat

Duvernay-Tardif opted out of the 2020 season to help his home country fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kansas City Chiefs RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s decision to opt-out of the 2020 NFL season is being recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Duvernay-Tardif became the first NFL player to opt-out of the 2020 season. Instead of playing this season, Duvernay-Tardif chose to utilize his medical degree, staying home in Canada while working as an orderly at a long-term care facility on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This came just months after he became a Super Bowl champion, starting at right guard for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

“If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for patients,” Duvernay-Tardif famously wrote in his opt-out decision.

Now, Duvernay-Tardif’s bravery is being recognized with a display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Both his medical scrubs and lab coat are now displayed in the Pro Football Today Gallery, including a brief exhibit on his opt-out decision.

Check it out:

A sixth-round pick by the Chiefs back in 2014, has started 63 games at right guard since 2015. Back in 2018, Duvernay-Tardif earned his doctorate of medicine from McGill University in Montreal. He became the first active NFL player to simultaneously play and hold a medical doctorate.

Perhaps when Duvernay-Tardif eventually suits up in the NFL again, the league will reconsider their stance on allowing him to have “M.D.” etched on the back of his jersey. At the very least, we know that he’s being celebrated by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and will be recognized in NFL history for his selfless decision to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Chiefs’ Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes respect Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s opt-out decision

There was an outpouring of support for Duvernay-Tardif’s selfless decision to opt-out of the 2020 NFL season during Saturday’s press conferences.

Kansas City Chiefs RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif became the first NFL player to opt-out of the season on Friday evening, choosing to stay in Canada working a long-term care facility to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic. As training camp opened in Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid spoke with the media. Both spoke out in support of Duvernay-Tardif’s decision.

“I think it surprises anyone, but at the same time you respect his decision,” Mahomes said during Saturday’s training camp press conference. “He’s a guy that has been on those front lines working with the people that are suffering from COVID day-to-day and putting in all that time and all that work. He understands it and his decision was he wanted to stay there — he wanted to keep helping in that capacity. And I know it was difficult for him, but you respect the decision for him to kind of put his thoughts aside and kind of do what he thought was best to help out his community and the world as he sees it.”

Reid had nothing bad to say about Duvernay-Tardif and showed unwavering support for his decision and dedication to continue giving and healing in the wake of the current global health crisis.

“I’m a huge Laurent Duvernay-Tardif fan and I was also raised by a doctor,” Reid said. “So, I understand the dedication that it takes to be a doctor and we’re all blessed to have doctors in our lives. They’re givers, they’re not takers. They’re givers and they’re healers, so they want the best for you. Larry has that quality and you’re seeing it to the utmost here. I just think it’s tremendous dedication to his profession and what his future is going to be and mainly to the people that he gets to help. My heart goes out to him. I had a great talk with him — a great visit with him. His players support him, the coaches support him. And we understand when football is over this is going to be one of the greatest doctors ever. We appreciate that.”

The guys throughout the Chiefs’ locker room all echo Mahomes’ sentiments on Duvernay-Tardif’s decision.

“From everybody that I’ve spoken to, everybody respects his decision 100 percent,” Mahomes said. “Larry’s a guy who loves football, but he also loves his other passions and being a doctor is extremely important, especially at this time that we’re at in this world. And so for him, I know it’s difficult for him, he wants to be out here with us, he wants to be a part of us, he wants to be a part of the guys. But at the same time, he wants to make sure he’s doing something to make the world a better place and I believe he is doing that. He’s seen it first-hand and he understands he has to be in that place now and we’re gonna respect it and give him as much support as we can.”

The team will miss Duvernay-Tardif’s presence in the locker room and on the field. He should find comfort knowing that he continues to have the support his teammates, coaches, and the entire Chiefs Kingdom behind him.

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