The legacy of former Kansas City Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif stretches well beyond his playing days on the NFL gridiron. He will forever be known for his decision to pause his career in favor of his work in the medical field in the fight against COVID-19 in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec.
The Super Bowl champion announced a few months ago his intentions to temporarily walk away from the NFL to further his medical work and residency in Montreal. The Canadian Football League rights to Duvernay-Tardif, who was selected in the third round (19th overall) of that league’s 2014 draft by the Calgary Stampeders, were traded to his hometown team, the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. The deal was made to honor Duvernay-Tardif in Canada with the opportunity to in Montreal, according to Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia in Friday’s press release.
“We are happy to have proceeded with this transaction,” said Maciocia. “Laurent is a football icon in Montreal and Quebec. We can only be winners in this transaction because even if Laurent never wears an Alouettes uniform, he will be able to openly support his hometown team without feeling any remorse.”
Duvernay-Tardif chose the NFL in 2014 when he was drafted by the Chiefs and hadn’t expressed interest in a possible switch to the CFL. The Alouettes offer an extra incentive to the former guard to honor his professional medical title on the back of his jersey.
“We wish him the best success with his football career moving forward, and are satisfied knowing that if he does play in Canada, he will do so in a city and a stadium that he knows very well,” said Maciocia, “He would also finally be able to wear the letters M.D. on the back of his jersey like he has been wanting to do.”
The odds of Duvernay-Tardif choosing the CFL in a return to football don’t seem promising, but anything is possible. The gesture of his hometown team to acquire him expresses his importance to the country and the sport.
