MONTREAL -- Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of the Kansas City Chiefs was honoured by McGill Athletics & Recreation on Wednesday with a banner-unveiling ceremony to recognize his impressive achievement of winning the Super Bowl after a brilliant academic and athletic career at McGill University.

"It's been an awesome dream and it's not only the journey of the last two weeks (but also)... over the past six years," said the 29-year-old native of Mont St. Hilaire, Que., who became the first native Quebecer to win the Super Bowl and second McGill football grad to play in the NFL's championship game. He joins Dr. Jean-Philippe Darche who played for Seattle in the 2006 contest, a loss to Pittsburgh. Darche, who graduated from McGill with a science degree in 1997, will come away with a Super Bowl ring as well, since he currently serves as a team physician with Kansas City.

"Everything started for me back in 2014. I was a third-year medical student and had a crazy dream maybe of trying to reach the NFL," said Duvernay-Tardif, who was a sixth-round draft pick of the Chiefs in 2014. "It was also clear at that time that I had to finish that medical degree because you don't know what will happen in the NFL. Careers are very short and there are also injuries. So you have to make sure that you have a strong Plan A (which was) my degree in medicine."

Duvernay-Tardif, a starting 6-foot-5, 321-pound offensive right guard, was assigned to protect Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes -- who was awarded Game MVP honours as the Chiefs rallied from a late 10-point deficit for a 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL championship game at Miami on Feb. 2.

"We congratulate him on this incredible Super Bowl victory. What happiness he gave us all, it was really fantastic," said Suzanne Fortier, principal and vice-chancellor at McGill. "It's amazing how we are inspired by this man. For what he accomplished, obviously, but also by the way he got there. His determination, his resilience, his commitment to always give the best of himself. We are also inspired by his generosity to go and motivate young people, to make them see that we can have dreams and that we can achieve them if we put in (the) effort."

During LDT's four years with the McGill football program, from the 2010 season through 2013, he was a two-time all-Canadian who won the prestigious J.P. Metras Trophy as the most outstanding lineman in the country. He also was on the Principal's Student-athlete Honour Roll and received a national Top 10 Academic All-Canadian award from then Governor-General David Johnston.
 
"Just feeling that wave of support (from university officials and McGill alumni) and understanding my goal and what I was trying to accomplish, was really helpful," added Duvernay-Tardif. "(It) made me a better human (being). If I can promote the value of the McGill (brand), both here and abroad… it makes me so proud… You really feel that McGill has tentacles everywhere in the world and its awesome to feel part of that community."

"I just want to underscore Laurent's achievement," said David H. Eidelman, vice-principal (health affairs) and dean of the faculty of medicine. "It's really hard, anybody who's tried to get into medical school knows, that getting in alone these days, is an achievement. And (combining that with) getting to play in the Super Bowl is an even bigger achievement... This is something that all McGillians are extremely proud and happy for his success... And we'll be looking to see "MD" be put on the back of his jersey, regardless of what the NFL says."

Among the other dignitaries on hand for the ceremony, was Phil Quintal, acting executive director of athletics, Geoffrey Phillips, director of sport programs and head football coach Ronald Hilaire.

"The one thing that really stands out to me was how much of a fierce competitor he was (during his university career)," said Hilaire. "His drive, his intensity. I'm not surprised one bit that it drove him to be the student that he was, the medical graduate that he became and the NFL champion that he is today. We couldn't be more proud of him, his accomplishment and what he's done so far. We're looking forward to what he has in store for the future... We know that he will become a great role model for all future generations of student-athletes that pass through these walls."