Laurent Duvernay-Tardif won SI’s Sportsperson of the Year Award in 2020
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, general manager Joe Douglas and the New York Jets have acquired former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. In exchange, the team is set to send tight Daniel Brown over to the two-time defending AFC champions.
Trade! The #Jets are sending tight end Dan Brown to the #Chiefs for guard Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 2, 2021
A Quebec native, Duvernay-Tardif entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2014. He is likely best known for his medical endeavors, becoming the fourth player in NFL history (and the first active participant) to graduate from medical school. He was also the tenth player from a Canadian university to be chosen in the NFL Draft.
Duvernay-Tardif was the first player to opt-out of the 2020 NFL season proceedings, instead returning to Quebec to work at a Montreal long-term care facility at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For his efforts, Duvernay-Tardif was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year Award in 2020 as well as the winner of the Lou Marsh Award bestowed to Canada’s top athlete (sharing the award with Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies).
The blocker/doctor took to social media to thank Kansas City for the time they spent together and to express his excitement for a new opportunity in green. His seven-plus years with the Chiefs afforded him a chance to partake in the victorious trek to Super Bowl LIV.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am to the Kansas City Chiefs organization,” Duvernay-Tardif said in his statement. “They made my dream come true by drafting me in 2014. Thanks to Coach Reid who believed in me and supported me throughout my whole career to pursue both medical school and pro football, my two passions. Winning the Super Bowl in 2020 with this team will forever be one of my proudest moments.”
“Saying goodbye to KC is not an easy decision. When I opted out last year, I promised myself to do everything in my power to come back to the field. Joining the Jets gives me the best opportunity to play.”
The Jets (2-5) return to action on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts (8:20 p.m. ET, Fox/NFL Network)
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
