Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

COVID-19 Doctor and NFL Player

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Professional Sports speaker, medical speaker, COVID speaking topics

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is a Super Bowl–winning NFL offensive lineman and medical doctor from Montreal. A nine-year NFL veteran and graduate of McGill University, he became the first NFL player to opt out of a season to work on the COVID-19 front lines. Today, he is a bilingual keynote speaker on leadership, resilience, high performance and the future of healthcare.

Called “the most interesting man in the NFL”, Duvernay-Tardif is a Super Bowl champion and the only active NFL player to have earned a medical degree. Just months after his Super Bowl win with the Kansas City Chiefs — and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic — he stepped away from football to join the medical front lines. From the incredible highs of winning the Super Bowl to the burnout of working as an orderly, he shares his remarkable personal story, speaking to resilience, teamwork and values-based decision-making.

In May 2014, at the age of only 23, Duvernay-Tardif became the 10th Canadian to be drafted by an NFL team from a Canadian university. In his second season in Kansas City, the six-foot-five-inch, 320-pound player earned the position of starting right guard. Passionate about both football and medicine, he turned a deaf ear when counsellors and family members advised him to choose between sports and studies, and in 2018 he graduated from McGill University with his doctorate in medicine.

A fixture on the offensive line, Duvernay-Tardif was an integral part of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl 2020 win as their starting right guard. He has been named a co-recipient of the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award, co-winner of the 2020 Lou Marsh Trophy, and a member of l’Ordre national du Québec. After opting out of the 2020 season, he worked in a long-term care facility in Quebec and completed studies at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In recognition of his work in the medical field, he received the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award and became the inaugural recipient of Canada’s Walk of Fame National Hero Honour, with his scrubs and lab coat now displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Speaking Topics

Red Zone: From the Offensive Line to the Front Line of the Pandemic

In July 2020, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif sent shockwaves through the sports world by becoming the first NFL player to opt out of the upcoming season during the global pandemic.

As plans for the 2020 NFL season ramped up and daily cases of COVID-19 continued to skyrocket, Duvernay-Tardif, a fixture on the offensive line of the Kansas City Chiefs, stepped away from the game he loved. Not only a professional athlete, Duvernay-Tardif is also a medical school graduate. He withdrew when he realized that continuing to play — and potentially spreading the virus — was antithetical to everything he believed in. For the first time in his remarkable career, Duvernay-Tardif couldn’t reconcile his twin passions of football and medicine, and with his team’s Super Bowl win only months behind him, he found himself on the front lines of the pandemic, working in a long-term care facility in Quebec.

But that was just the beginning of the story. As Duvernay-Tardif settled into his new reality, he quickly came up against a severe COVID outbreak in his hospital unit. Meanwhile, his team, the Kansas City Chiefs, entered the playoffs as the favourites to repeat as champions in a season that saw countless games postponed due to league-wide outbreaks, including one on his own offensive line.

From the incredible highs of winning the Super Bowl to the burnout of working as an orderly, Duvernay-Tardif shares his remarkable personal story. He details how his insatiable curiosity and solid work ethic led him from his family’s bakery in Montreal to becoming one of the most fascinating and accomplished people in professional sports.

 

Performing Through Balance

In his keynote “Performing Through Balance”, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, former NFL player, Super Bowl Champion, medical resident, entrepreneur and philanthropist, uses his own experience to explore the importance of making decisions aligned with our values.

Among other things, he recounts his experience of choosing to put his NFL career on hold to contribute to the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. While sharing other anecdotes of recent years, the athlete explores how decision-making can become a key performance-enhancing skill.

Duvernay-Tardif also highlights the importance of strong, effective leadership in inspiring and motivating a team. He also discusses resilience and how diversity within a team should be seen as a strength.

This conference offers a perspective on how all these elements interact to support individual and collective success in an ever-changing professional world. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif hopes to encourage participants to cultivate a balance between professional effectiveness and personal integrity, thus contributing to lasting success.

 

Q&A for Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

Who is Laurent Duvernay-Tardif?

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is a Super Bowl champion, former NFL offensive lineman and medical doctor from Montreal. He became the first NFL player to opt out of a season to work on the COVID-19 front lines and is now a bilingual keynote speaker on leadership, resilience and high performance.

What topics does Laurent Duvernay-Tardif speak about?

Laurent speaks about leadership under pressure, resilience, teamwork, health and wellness, values-based decision-making, and balancing dual careers in professional sports and medicine. He also shares lessons from working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How long is a standard keynote from Laurent Duvernay-Tardif?

Laurent’s keynotes typically run 30–40 minutes, followed by 10–15 minutes of moderated Q&A or a fireside-style conversation. Formats can be adjusted to fit your agenda.

Is Laurent Duvernay-Tardif available for panels or workshops?

Yes. In addition to keynotes, Laurent is available for panel discussions, fireside chats and select workshops that focus on leadership, personal development, wellbeing and high-performance culture.

Where does Laurent Duvernay-Tardif travel from, and what languages does he speak?

Laurent generally travels from Quebec and speaks fluently in both English and French, making him an ideal choice for Canadian and international events.

How much does it cost to book Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for a keynote?

Laurent’s speaking fee depends on the event format, audience size, location, level of customisation and any additional elements such as panels or workshops. Please contact prospeakers.com directly for a firm quote tailored to your event.

How can I check Laurent Duvernay-Tardif’s availability or request a quote?

To check Laurent’s availability or request a quote, please contact Heather @ ProSpeakers.com with your event date, location, audience and budget range. Our team will confirm his schedule, discuss format options and provide next steps.

Which topics does Laurent Duvernay-Tardif typically speak on at events?

Laurent speaks on leadership, resilience, health and wellness, teamwork, overcoming challenges, and balancing dual careers in sports and medicine.

How do we book Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for our next event?

To book Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for your next event, please contact Heather at ProSpeakers.com:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 416-420-4525

How far in advance should we book Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for an event?

We recommend contacting us three to six months before your event to ensure availability and allow time for planning and customization.

How do we book Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for your next event?

To book Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for your next event please contact Heather at ProSpeakers.com:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 416‑420‑4525