Laurent Duvernay-Tardif starting playing in the NFL is opting out of the 2020 season so he can work at a hospital in Quebec. Tardif has medical degree from McGrill and was working on his residency during the off season but he has fully committed to his side job as a Doctor due to the pandemic.
Canadian offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif won’t be helping Kansas City defend its Super Bowl title.
The 29-year-old from Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., became the first player to opt out of the upcoming NFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic Friday. The KC starting right guard earned a medical degree from McGill University and has been working to fulfil his requirements to become a doctor in the off-season.
He has been on the front lines of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic this summer and said in a social media post that if he is going to take any health risks, it will be to help patients.
“This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life but I must follow my convictions and do what I believe is right for me personally,” Duvernay-Tardif said in a message on Twitter. "This is why I have decided to take the Opt Out Option negotiated by the League and the NFLPA and officially opt out of the 2020 NFL season.
“Being on the frontline during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals and our healthcare system. I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus in our communities simply to play the sport that I love.”
