Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif got a big $40 million extension this offseason. What did he do to celebrate? Oh, you know, just some geriatric medicine training. The Chiefs guard isn’t just a football player. As you know, he’s also studying to become a doctor. And he’s getting closer to making that happen.
“The contract for me was huge and I’m super happy about it,” LDT said via quotes from the Chiefs. “It’s a huge vote of confidence from the Chiefs. But at the end of the day, the plan is also to become a doctor and I promised myself I was going to finish my M.D. and I’m on track to finish it this next offseason.”
LDT said he was back in Montreal the week after the Chiefs playoff loss to the Steelers last January to continue his studies.
“I’m pretty much done with the clinical part of medical school,” LDT told reporters on Wednesday. “Now I just have to study for the big exam, which is next May for me. I’ve got eight months to study for it. Of course, I won’t be studying for it during the season, but as soon as the season is over, I’ll have a good three months to study for that and I’ll be done with it.”
NFL teams aren’t known for giving players big money extensions and then saying it’s OK for them to miss work but that’s what happened here as Andy Reid apparently signed off on LDT missing a chunk of the Chiefs offseason program. (Technically, it’s voluntary so Reid doesn’t have to literally sign off but I think you know what I mean)
“Like the year before, coach Reid has been really flexible with my schedule,” LDT said. “He understands everything that I’m trying to do. I was able to report almost three weeks later than usual -- almost at the beginning of Phase II. I was able to get a good chunk done and I’m a lot closer to graduating.”
I remember the night before LDT was drafted he was helping deliver twins. A few years later and his journey is almost done. Or just beginning, rather. Either way, what a story.