NFL: Kansas City Chief Right Back Suited Up As A Medical Professional Against COVID-19

Just a few months ago Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was celebrating his biggest win as an athlete with a Super Bowl Championship. Fast-forward to today’s rapidly changing world and Duvernay-Tardif is now serving the front lines as a medical doctor against the COVID-19.

The reigning champions of the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs, are coming off one of an impressive season led by Patrick Mahomes. The promise the team showed sets up more possibilities for dominating runs in the future. But that will have to wait for now as the coronavirus global pandemic has brought an immediate halt to all of the world’s sporting events.

This is where Duvernay-Tardif comes in as a medical professional. The former 200th overall pick in the 2014 draft is also a graduate of the McGill University Faculty of Medicine in 2018. Per CNN, Duvernay-Tardiff is working at a long-term care facility near Montreal.

In this difficult time, Duvernay-Tardif took to Sports Illustrated to share his thoughts on the whole threat of the coronavirus.

"My first day back in the hospital was April 24," Duvernay-Tardif wrote. "I felt nervous the night before, but a good nervous, like before a game," he added.

While the pressure of protecting star quarterback Mahomes is immense, Duvernay-Tardif shared that there’s nothing compared to saving the lives of others.

"That stuff is more important than ever, to protect not only yourself but your patients," he reflected.

"There's so much that needs to happen just to visit with every patient -- masks donned and hands washed and equipment like gloves and visors tugged on and off and thrown away. I handled a medication cart, making sure to administer the right dosage and in the proper way. Honestly, I was drained after -- and looking forward to going back," Duvernay-Tardif wrote.

The Chiefs already gave the CIS All-Canadian the go signal to serve in the medical field. While his residency is on hold for now, he’s made sure to give back to Canada during the fight against the coronavirus as much as he can.

"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," he added.

Sports might not come back soon but Duvernay-Tardif understands that the public’s health and wellbeing are bigger than any play on the football field.