Kenechi Udeze Kenechi Nduka Udeze ( ; born March 5 , 1983 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League ( NFL ) for four seasons during the early 2000s . He played college football for the University of Southern California ( USC ) , and was recognized as an All - American . The Minnesota Vikings picked Udeze in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft , but was forced to retire in 2008 after he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia . Early years . Udeze was born in Los Angeles , California . He attended Verbum Dei High School , a Jesuit - affiliated Roman Catholic school in Los Angeles , where he played high school football for the Verbum Dei Eagles . College career . While attending the University of Southern California , Udeze played for coach Pete Carroll ' s USC Trojans football team from 2001 to 2003 . He was a three - year starter and helped his team to a 2004 Rose Bowl victory as a junior . He finished his college career with 135 tackles ( 51 of them for a loss ) , 28 sacks ( a school record ) , 14 forced fumbles , three fumble recoveries , one interception , five pass deflections , and two blocked kicks . As a junior in 2003 , he was a first - team All - Pac - 10 selection , and was recognized as a consensus first - team All - American . Professional career . Minnesota Vikings . Udeze was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round ( twentieth overall pick ) of the 2004 NFL Draft . During his rookie season with the Vikings , he started 15 games and recorded 36 tackles , five sacks , one forced fumble , and one pass deflected . As a second year pro , Udeze was injured in the Vikings third game of the season with cartilage damage in his left knee , which kept him out the rest of the year . Udeze finished the season with three games started , five tackles , and one quarterback sack . In 2006 he was once again the starter at left defensive end , playing 16 games , starting 15 and recorded 29 tackles and no sacks . The following year he again playing in all 16 games , with 15 starts , and had 47 tackles and five sacks . Illness and retirement . On February 11 , 2008 , it was announced that Udeze was diagnosed by doctors with a form of leukemia : acute lymphoblastic leukemia . KMSP - TV ( Ch . 9 ) also reported that Udeze was at Fairview Southdale Hospital undergoing tests and that he was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester the week before . Udeze revealed that his acute leukemia is in a state of remission . Udeze will get a bone marrow transplant from his brother . He says he plans to play football again someday , but says health is his No . 1 priority for now . The Vikings placed Udeze on the non - football injury list and eventually injured reserve in July 2008 , ending his season . Udeze returned to the Metrodome as an honorary captain for a game against the Green Bay Packers on November 9 , 2008 , again stating he would return . " You know what ? I ' ll be back next year , " Udeze told the St . Paul Pioneer Press . Udeze was able to get back into good enough condition to return to the Vikings for 2009 pre - season training , reaching the physical form he was in before his illness . He took 26 snaps during a Vikings mini - camp but struggled with peripheral neuropathy in his feet , a result of his chemotherapy . The chemotherapy - induced neuropathy caused numbness that kept him from being able to plant firmly and create any burst up the field after the snap . Finding himself unable to move at the level he was used to , Udeze decided to retire and announced his decision on July 29 , 2009 . Post - retirement . During his illness , Udeze decided to return to USC and take classes to finish his degree . In May 2010 , Udeze graduated with a degree in sociology . Former USC assistant coach Steve Sarkisian , who became head coach of the Washington Huskies , hired Udeze as an assistant strength and conditioning coach , and also working with the defensive line . He also works heavily with charities that help raise money for cancer research .