The Kansas City Chiefs traded Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to the New York Jets. The cut-off time for transactions in the NFL was 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The offensive lineman donned the Chiefs uniform for the first time this season on Monday night. He did not, however, play in the Chiefs’ 20-17 victory over the New York Giants.
“Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel for the Kansas City Chiefs organization. They allowed me to make my dream come true by drafting me in 2014. Thanks to Coach Reid who believed in me and supported me throughout my career to live my two passions, medical school and professional football. “, Wrote Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in a message posted on Twitter on Tuesday.
“To the Chiefs fans, thank you for your support through the years. You welcomed me with open arms and made a French-speaking Canadian feel at home in the Midwest. My memories of Kansas City wouldn’t be the same without you. ”
“To the fans in Canada, thank you for your continued support. I am very grateful for your support over the past few years and thank you very much for it. ”
“Saying goodbye to KC is not an easy decision. When I chose not to play last season, I vowed to do everything to get back on the pitch. Joining the Jets gives me the best chance to play. ”
“LDT” had chosen to ignore last season, in the midst of the pandemic, since it wanted to make sure it did not become a vector of transmission of COVID-19. He was also at that time the first player to make such a decision.
He took advantage of his football break to help out in a CHSLD in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. His white doctor’s coat is now on display in the American Football Hall of Fame. This dedication also earned him the prestigious Muhammad Ali humanitarian prize, awarded to the ESPYS.
“There was a lack of arms and people,” he said at the time. I did not go there as a doctor, but as a nurse / beneficiary / volunteer / caregiver. Above all, I felt like I was part of a movement of people who raised their hands to contribute and be part of the solution. ”
Duvernay-Tardif, 30, won the Super Bowl as a starter with the Chiefs in February 2020, a few weeks before the start of the pandemic. He held a no-move clause, but clearly his future no longer lay with the Chiefs, where he had been ousted from the regular rotation. He will likely have his chance with the Jets, a rebuilding team with a two-win and five-loss record. No team has scored fewer points than them in the NFL this season.
In return for Duvernay-Tardif, the Chiefs got tight end Dan Brown. He’s played this season, but almost exclusively on special teams. He didn’t make any catches. Brown had caught two passes for 31 yards in 16 games in 2020.