Laurent Duvernay-Tardif became just the 16th Canadian to appear in the NFL’s championship game, when he suited up for Super Bowl LIV with the Kansas City Chiefs on February 2. The Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 to win the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game was held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Duvernay-Tardif, a 28-year-old guard, hails from the Montreal area. In addition to being a rare Canadian in the Super Bowl, he’s also the first medical doctor to play in the NFL. His big game appearance marked a career milestone while connecting two Super Bowl-crazed nations.

More than eight million Canadians tuned in and in the US, an estimated 99.9 million American viewers tuned into the Super Bowl, a one-percent increase from last year

Advertisers spent $5.6 million per 30-second commercial. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira lead the A-list halftime show. Super Bowl LIV was also anticipated to be the most bet on NFL championship in history, with 26 million Americans seeking expert analysis and wagering on the event.

From Quebec to Kansas City

Duvernay-Tardif was born in Mount-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec on February 21, 1991. He began playing football in Montreal before attending college at McGill University. 

The six foot, six inch defender played four noteworthy seasons for the Redmen from 2010 to 2013. His college career culminated when he won the J.P. Metras Trophy as a senior. The award is presented annually to the Most Outstanding Lineman in the Canadian Interuniversity (now called ‘U Sports’) system. 

Duvernay-Tardif continued his medical studies as his playing days at McGill came to an end. Amazingly, he kept his draft stock high while practicing football only once a week. A fortunate opportunity came Duvernay-Tardif’s way in December 2013. 

The pigskin-playing-doctor was invited to play in the 2014 East-West Shrine Game, a US exhibition all-star game with over 100 American players and Canadian invitees. He made a quality appearance in the game for Jerry Glanville’s-winning East team as they defeated the West, 23-13. In a moment of Super Bowl LIV foreshadowing, San Francisco’s Jimmy Garappolo quarterbacked the West team and was named the game’s co-MVP. 

Duvernay-Tardif wasn’t invited to the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine. Instead, he held a personal pro day in Montreal to showcase his talents for interested teams. The event was attended by representatives from nine NFL teams and four CFL organizations. Duvernay-Tardiff was soon ranked by DraftScout.com as the 12th best offensive tackle entering the NFL Draft. CFL Draft watchers ranked him the most eligible player available for the Canadian league. 

The Chiefs scooped up Duvernay-Tardif in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft with the 200th overall pick. A month later, he went to the Calgary Stampeders in the third round of the CFL selection meeting. He opted to play south of the border and inked a four-year $2.34 million deal with Kansas City on May 14, 2014. 

A Physician on the Gridiron

With the backing of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, Duvernay-Tardif worked through medical school at McGill during his first four offseasons. He earned his four-year medical degree in 2018. 

Patients will have to wait if they hope to see Dr. Duvernay-Tardiff. Completing his medical residency remains a future endeavor for good reason. The 2019 NFL season marked his sixth in the league, all of them in a Chiefs uniform. He’s in the middle of a five-year $42.36 million contract, and with a new Super Bowl ring, it may be a while before the good doctor is in.  

A Local Kick

Over the years, players with direct ties to Mississauga have made appearances in previous Super Bowls, including Klaus Wilmsmeyer, who won Super Bowl XXIV with the 49ers. San Francisco defeated the Denver Broncos in the 1990.
 Originally from Southampton, England, Ken Clark spent his formative years in Mississauga. He played in Super Bowl XIV with the Los Angeles Rams in 1980, but the Rams lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.