The New York Jets traded tight end Daniel Brown to the Kansas City Chiefs for guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Duvernay-Tardif, 30, has not played since the Chiefs’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV after the 2019 season.
A physician, he opted out of the 2020 campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic and worked at a long-term care facility near his hometown of Montreal.
While making his comeback in August, he broke a bone in his hand and ultimately lost his starting position at right guard to rookie Trey Smith. Duvernay-Tardif has been a healthy scratch throughout this season.
Duvernay-Tardif started 57 of his 60 games from 2015-19 with the Chiefs, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2014.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am to the Kansas City Chiefs organization. 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 wrote on Twitter, in part.
“… Saying goodbye to KC is not an easy decision. When I opted out last year, I promised myself to do everything in my power to come back on the field. Joining the Jets give me the best opportunity to play.”
Brown, 29, has mostly played special teams this season and has no catches in seven games.
He has 44 receptions for 420 yards and two touchdowns in 81 games (12 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2015-16), Chicago Bears (2016-18) and Jets.
