Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: Pro athletes have a responsibility to our communities

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 12, 2021, 4:57 AM EDT
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Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is getting recognition for the major sacrifice he made in 2020.

Duvernay-Tardif, a medical doctor, received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award for taking a year off from the NFL so that he could return to his hometown of Montreal and work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Duvernay-Tardif said afterward that he views community service as part of the job of being a professional athlete.

“Being a professional athlete comes with a lot of privileges but also a responsibility to use your platform to have a positive impact in your community. Winning this award for my work off the field is a huge honor,” Duvernay-Tardif wrote on Twitter.

Duvernay-Tardif is now back with the Chiefs after opting out of the 2020 season.

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10 responses to “Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: Pro athletes have a responsibility to our communities”

  1. Yes this was a great story and major props to him for serving his community.

  2. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif sacrificed a lucrative year of his football career to serve his fellow humans. He unselfishly risked his life during the pre-vaccination era in order to save others.

    Yet we have way too many people who selfishly refuse to help humanity by performing the simple task of getting vaccinated. There is such a stark difference between the humanitarian effort of Duvernay-Tardif and the abject failure of the anti-vaxxers.

  3. He is a good man for doing what he did. The world needed another doctor more than it needed another athlete. Much respect to the man. I hope he can help the rest of the players gain his perspective on community service

  4. Story doesn’t get enough press, truly admirable on many fronts. Good on him.

  5. Will the NFL now let this man put ‘Dr.’ on his jersey name? I mean you can put Sr., Jr. II, III, etc. Why can’t LDT have his LEGAL title on his jersey after everything he did?

  7. While he did something good off of the field, LDT failed his team last season. Maybe go ahead and go be a doctor if you don’t want to step up and play for your team.

  8. pftancelledme says:
    July 12, 2021 at 9:46 am
    While he did something good off of the field, LDT failed his team last season. Maybe go ahead and go be a doctor if you don’t want to step up and play for your team.
    ___________

    To the contrary, he honored his team, his teammates, and the Kansas City fans by putting his skills to use to help people during a worldwide pandemic.

  9. A noble gesture on his part ;but A Medical Doctor / Football player. Does the term Oxymoron come to mind? A lot of injuries (cte), torn ACL , etc are all part of the game of football .

  10. I’ve been saying since the award was given out… who was more deserving of the Walter Payton Man of the year award than him? Hands down, this man gave back to his community and took his oath serious!

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