While medical doctors in the National Football League (NFL) are expected to be part of the medical staff, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif plays right guard on the Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs.
Duvernay-Tardif, who earned his degree as a medical doctor from McGill University in Canada in 2018, is tasked with protecting superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes as they try to take their first NFL Super Bowl win in 50 years.
He is the first practicing medical doctor playing for an NFL team and will also become the first one to play in a Super Bowl.
Duvernay-Tardif said: "When I stepped on that stage at McGill University and got my MD last year, it was probably the best moment of my life -- after the one I'm going to live (Sunday)," pertaining to the team's Super Bowl LIV appearance.
The 28-year-old Montreal native stands at 6 feet, 5 inches and is listed at 321 pounds. Sometimes his teammates call him doc or doctor, but they also call him Larry, and admire how he uses his intellect in the game.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said: "Without a doubt, especially with the offensive line position, you have to be a very smart dude. There's a lot of stuff that goes into protections, and how we're going to identify the run game. Larry's stepped in. He figured it out early in his career, and he has just taken it for a ride ever since."
Duvernay-Tardif, now in his sixth NFL season and in the midst of a five-year, $42.4 million contract with the Chiefs, mentioned: "I think I want people to see me as one of the best student athletes in the world."
"Of course you want to be the best football player. You want to be the best doctor. But to be able to combine both at the highest level ... I think that's my biggest accomplishment," he added.
