Chiefs RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is on the front lines fighting the pandemic and serving as a member of the NFLPA’s coronavirus task force.
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Kansas City Chiefs right guard and doctor of medicine, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, is now on the front lines doing what he can to help fight the novel coronavirus near his hometown, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada. He’ll also play an integral role in determining when and how football will return for the 2020 NFL season, as part of the NFLPA’s coronavirus task force. Duvernay-Tardif recently shared his story, in his own words, with Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bishop for their Daily Cover.
Despite receiving his doctorate in May of 2018, the main focus has been football for Duvernay-Tardif, winning Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs just months ago. It’s something that he’s often reminded of as he heads to the long-term care facility he’s currently working at.
“It’s wild to think that just 10 weeks earlier I played in the biggest game in sports. I was reminded of that even at the facility, when one of the people training me turned and said, ‘You’re the football player, right?’ When I answered yes, he said, ‘Bro, you just won the Super Bowl.’ Indeed, I told him, and now I just want to help.“
Duvernay-Tardif hasn’t yet finished his residency and he doesn’t have a specialization, but with the threat of COVID-19, he knew that he could be of assistance. When officials for the Canadian health ministry began recruiting medical professionals who might have the training to be able to help in some capacity, Duvernay-Tardif knew what he had to do.
He discussed the decision with his girlfriend, his family and the Kansas City Chiefs — he was going to join the fight against the coronavirus. The Chiefs, by the way, were more than supportive in his decision. That’s how he ended up at the long-term care facility, working as a nurse. So far they’ve only had one positive test for the coronavirus. He says that the measures they’ve put in place at the facility has assured the virus won’t spread to others.
This type of experience will come in handy down the line for Duvernay-Tardif, who has also been selected as a member of the NFLPA’s coronavirus task force. The task force is chaired by Thom Mayer, who serves as medical director for the NFLPA. It includes experts from across the country whose purpose will be determining how NFL players can return to play safely and without the threat of COVID-19.
“We will look at how teams will train, how they will travel and how the games will take place,” Duvernay-Tardif said. “And, since this is the NFL, a league with a lot of resources, it seems like every option is on the table. For now, we’re just getting started.”
While Duvernay-Tardif seems optimistic that football will eventually return, he also notes that it is far too soon to tell when that might be.
“What I can say is if we’re not playing in September, knowing all the implications of what sport means for a nation and the money behind this huge industry, there are going to be bigger issues than not playing football”
The experience that Duvernay-Tardif brings will be invaluable to the protection of players and the eventual reopening of the league — a decision that will be guided by science and safety.
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