Less than two calendar years after starting for the Chiefs in their Super Bowl LIV victory over the 49ers, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is saying farewell to Kansas City. The veteran right guard was dealt to the Jets ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, as NFL Media reported, as part of a player-for-player swap involving tight end Daniel Brown.
Duvernay-Tardif, 32, missed the entire 2020 season as a COVID opt-out, instead using his medical doctorate to serve a long-term care facility during the pandemic. After returning to the Chiefs this year, he suffered a hand injury in training camp and spent the first seven games of the 2021 campaign inactive. Duvernay-Tardif returned to the field on Monday night for Kansas City's win over the Giants to back up rookie Trey Smith at right guard, his old starting spot.
"Words cannot express how grateful I am to to the Kansas City Chiefs organization," the lineman wrote on Twitter after his trade. "They made my dream come true by drafting me in 2014. Thanks to Coach (Andy) Reid, who believed in me and supported me throughout my whole career to pursue both medical school and pro football, my two passions. Winning the Super Bowl in 2020 with this team will forever be one of my proudest moments."
Duvernay-Tardif, who started 57 total games for the Chiefs, will give the Jets much-needed depth along the offensive line. He's scheduled to become a free agent after the season.
Brown, who arrives in Kansas City in exchange for the veteran guard, spent the last two and a half seasons with the Jets. Originally undrafted out of James Madison in 2015, he's mostly served as a special teams contributor and backup tight end, also spending time with the Ravens and Bears. He figures to step in as a No. 2 or No. 3 option behind Travis Kelce with the Chiefs.