Canadian Super Bowl hero is now volunteering on the frontline in a long-term care home

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Canadian right guard for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, is using his doctorate in medicine to combat coronavirus in a long-term care home in Quebec.

Duvernay-Tardif explains how he is helping in a new Sports Illustrated article he has penned: "Soon into the crisis I started to ask how I could help. I reached out to the health ministry and public health authorities, but found out that I fell into a gray area where they didn’t know what to do with me, because I don’t have a license to practice—yet."

Duvernay-Tardif ended up taking a crash course and was placed in a long-term health facility in South Shore, a community an hour outside of Montreal. "I registered for a crash course, where I reviewed the basics of how to put a surgical gown on and learn all the steps for sanitizing, because that stuff is more important than ever, to protect not only yourself but your patients," he said.

His first shift was eventful: "My shift started at 7:30 a.m. I found out that I would be working for now in more of a nursing role, helping relieve the workers who have already been in place. There’s so much that needs to happen just to visit with every patient—masks donned and hands washed and equipment like gloves and visors tugged on and off and thrown away. I handled a medication cart, making sure to administer the right dosage and in the proper way. Honestly, I was drained after—and looking forward to going back."

The football star recalled a moment when one of the people training him said, “You’re the football player, right?”

Duvernay-Tardif confirmed that he was.

“Bro, you just won the Super Bowl,” the man said.

"Indeed," Duvernay-Tardif responded, "and now I just want to help."