Just days after making his return to the Kansas City Chiefs, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has been named a finalist for a humanitarian award.
Doctor Duvernay-Tardif put his NFL career on hold in 2020, opting out of the NFL season to work in a long-term care facility near his hometown of Montreal, Quebec. He spent time working as an orderly, a nurse and resident fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic in one of the hardest-hit areas of care.
The Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman’s selfless decision is now being recognized by as Duvernay-Tardif has been named among four finalists for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in the 2021 ESPYs. Here is ESPN’s description of the award:
“The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award is given to an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a measured positive impact on their community through sports. The candidate must embrace the core principals that Muhammad Ali embodied so well, including confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and respect.”
ESPN says they’re recognizing Duvernay-Tardif as a finalist because of “his conviction to combat a virus the world knew very little about at the onset of the pandemic risked his own personal health and football career.” He’s also being recognized for serving on the NFLPA’s COVID-19 task force during the 2020 NFL season and for his creation of the Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Foundation, which promotes physical activity and creativity in youth.
The other finalists for this year’s award include Chicago Cubs’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Minnesota Lynx guard Layshia Clarendon, and WWE wrestler Titus O’Neil. Previous award winners include Minnesota Twins RF Nelson Cruz, Philadelphia Eagles DE Chris Long (brother of Chiefs’ Kyle Long), and NBA forward Kevin Durant.
Each finalist for this award will receive a $25,000 grant for a charitable cause of their choosing. The winner. who will be revealed during the ESPYs Award Show on Saturday, July 10, will receive an additional $100,000 donation.
