Dr. Duvernay-Tardif joins Dr. Darche as the second McGill grad to reach Super Bowl

21 janvier 2020

MONTREAL -- Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif will be joining fellow McGill University graduate Dr. Jean-Philippe Darche in a select group of U SPORTS products to play for a Super Bowl championship.

Duvernay-Tardif, a starting 6-foot-5, 321-pound offensive guard with Kansas City, advanced to the National Football League's epic showdown when the Chiefs defeated Tennessee 35-24 in Sunday's AFC championship game. They will meet the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. The upcoming 54th Super Bowl, which will decide the champion for the NFL's 100th season, is scheduled to be played on Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Florida. The halftime show will be headlined by entertainers Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.

Duvernay-Tardif, a two-time all-Canadian who won the prestigious J.P. Metras Trophy as the most outstanding lineman while at McGill, will become the fifth U SPORTS product to actually to compete on football's biggest stage, joining Jon Ryan (Regina Rams), Israel Idonije (Manitoba Bisons), Jean-Philippe Darche (McGill) and Ken Clark (Saint Mary's Huskies). Only Ryan was successful in the quest for a Super Bowl ring. The former Regina Rams punter / receiver played in two championships, kicking for Seattle in a 43-8 victory over Denver in 2014 and also in a 28-24 loss to New England in 2015.

Darche became only the second Canadian collegian (after Clark) to play in the Super Bowl when his Seattle Seahawks lost 21-10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006.

A number of other U SPORTS standouts have reached the Super Bowl over the years but were not in the lineup come game time. The list includes offensive tackle David Foucault (Montreal Carabins), with Carolina in 2016 (practice roster), offensive lineman Dan Federkeil (Calgary Dinos) with Indianapolis in 2007 (active roster) and 2010 (injured reserve), receiver Samuel Giguère (Sherbrooke Vert & Or), also with the Colts in 2010 (active roster), as well as receiver Tyrone Williams (Western Mustangs) with Dallas in 1993 (practice roster) and 1994 (active roster).

Ryan (2014), Federkeil (2007) and Williams (1994) are the only former U SPORTS stars to own a Super Bowl ring. Williams was a member of the Dallas Cowboys when they defeated Buffalo 52-17 in 1993. Giguère was with the Colts who lost 31-17 to New Orleans in 2010.

Duvernay-Tardif, a 28-year-old native of St. Hilaire, Que., is in his sixth year with Kansas City after being selected 200th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. He is one of three McGill grads to play in the NFL, joining Randy Chevrier (Dallas, Cincinnati) and Darche, who currently serves as a team physician with the Chiefs.

Darche, a 44-year-old from St. Laurent, Que., graduated from McGill in only three years, earning a BSc '97, majoring in physiology. He then served as team captain for two more seasons at McGill while in medical school. In 1999, he was a third round selection by the Toronto Argonauts in the 1999 Canadian Football League Draft. Darche played one season as the Argos long-snapper, then made the jump to the NFL, where he had a nine-year career with Seattle and Kansas City. During a brilliant university career, Darche was a star middle linebacker and long-snapper at McGill. In 1998, he received the Russ Jackson Trophy, a national award for the player who best combines football prowess with academics and citizenship. He served as co-captain of the McGill football team and concluded his collegiate career as the all-time leading tackler in school history with 272 tackles, including 132 solos.

U SPORTS PLAYERS IN THE SUPER BOWL

2020: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (McGill), Kansas City, active roster (expected to dress)
2015: Jon Ryan (Regina), Seattle, active roster (dressed)
2014: Jon Ryan (Regina), Seattle, active roster (dressed)
2010: Dan Federkeil (Calgary), Indianapolis, injured reserve (did not dress)
2010: Samuel Giguère (Sherbrooke), Indianapolis, active roster (did not dress)
2007: Dan Federkeil (Calgary), Indianapolis, active roster (did not dress)
2007: Israel Idonije (Manitoba), Chicago, active roster (dressed)
2006: Jean-Philippe Darche (McGill), Seattle, active roster (dressed)
1994: Tyrone Williams (Western), Dallas, active roster (did not dress)
1993: Tyrone Williams (Western), Dallas, practice roster (did not dress)
1980: Ken Clark (Saint Mary's), LA Rams, active roster (dressed)