Daily Norseman: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
New Blog: Once A Metro covering Red Bull New York!

Kenechi Udeze Announces His Retirement

As has already been mentioned, Vikings' defensive lineman Kenechi Udeze has announced his retirement from the NFL after attempting to come back from the acute lymphoblastic leukemia that caused him to miss the entire 2008 season.

Udeze's ascent to the NFL was a pretty remarkable one.  He was born in Nigeria, and his family migrated to California during his youth.  He was heavily recruited out of Verbum Dei High School and reported to the University of Southern California as a 360-pound defensive lineman.  He red-shirted during his freshman season with the Trojans, during which his weight climbed even higher, close to the 400-pound range.  Pete Carroll and company told Udeze that he needed to lose some weight if he wanted to continue his college football career.  So, all BKU. . .Big Kenechi Udeze. . .did in response was drop about a hundred pounds.  The added speed and quickness he gained helped him to lead college football in sacks in 2003 with 16.5.  When the Vikings drafted him with the 20th overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft, he was a lean, sculpted 280 pound defensive end.

Udeze had a pretty good rookie year in 2004, notching 36 total tackles and five sacks.  The biggest highlight from that season probably came in the Vikings' tilt against Jacksonville at the Metrodome in Week 12.  Although the game had been hyped as the return of Randy Moss from injury, it was Udeze who made the biggest play of the day.  With just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Vikings held a 20-16 lead, but the Jaguars were driving down the field.  On third-and-six from the Vikings' 19-yard line, Jaguars' quarterback Byron Leftwich dropped back to pass, and then began to roll to his right.  As he brought his arm back to fire a pass to a wide-open Reggie Williams, Udeze caught up to him and knocked the ball out of his hand.  The ensuing fumble was picked up by Kevin Williams, who rumbled 77 yards for the game-sealing score.

Sadly, 2005 was a lost year for Udeze, as he tore his ACL in the third week of the season against the Atlanta Falcons and missed the remainder of the season.  The injury clearly slowed him down in 2006 as well, as he went the entire season without registering a sack, despite having a bunch of quarterback hurries that year.  In 2007, however, he was finally back to his old form, as his five sacks tied him for the team lead, and he even snagged his first career interception in a blowout victory over the Detroit Lions.

Many people will look at nothing more than Udeze's career sack numbers. . .11 in his four NFL seasons. . .and immediately conclude that he was a bust.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  He certainly wasn't a superstar or anything, but he had matured into one of the NFL's best run-stopping defensive ends in his four years in purple prior to his diagnosis.  I was selfishly hoping to see him back this season to see what kind of damage he could do lined up next to the Williams Wall and Jared Allen, but it simply was not to be.

We here at The Daily Norseman want to wish #95 the best in all of his future endeavors, and raise a glass to his continued health, well-being, and prosperity.  Thanks for the memories, Kenechi.  You'll be missed.

0 recs  |  Comment 11 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Good Luck KU

Anything is possible. Stay strong.

by CitrusFLViking on Jul 30, 2009 8:55 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

We wish you all the best

in your future endevears Kenechi Udeze, you will be missed on the playing field. I do hope we find a way to keep him on as an assistant coach/PR position, by all accounts he was a stand up guy. I hope his medical issues are now behind him.

Will the Real Thor Please Stand Up ... ?

by the Real Thor on Jul 30, 2009 10:34 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Viking #95

Good Luck Udeze, I also wanted to witness your comeback with the Vikings. Hope you fully recover.

by LAviking on Jul 30, 2009 11:17 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I really think his number should be retired.

"He didn’t call me or anything. It was an accident, but a lot of people would have called to see how someone is doing after they got hit in the head. Especially if they had to go on the DL." — Morneau on pitcher Ron Villone after an April 2005 beaning.

by Gonzo2 on Jul 30, 2009 1:25 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No offense to KU, but that would be a little much. Stringer’s number wasn’t retired, was it?

In AP I trust
Just say no to Favre.
F-A-R-V-A =/= F-A-V-R-E

by FarvaForTheVikings on Jul 30, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yes

Korey Stringers number has been retired

sugar + water + purple

by Grape Drank on Jul 30, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

stringer played for a while and was very good at his job. uduze just wasn’t around long enough for that.

by iseepurplepeople on Jul 30, 2009 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is one of those stories

that shows us that sometimes life is bigger than the game. I admire Kenechi’s courage to want to fight and live through such a terrible disease. I always considered him a talented athlete and football player, but now I have gained so much more respect for the MAN as well as the athlete.

I wish him all the best, and as a non-Viking fan, good luck to the team. They lost a quality individual.

by silencerdu on Jul 30, 2009 2:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

thanks for the support. we lost an inspirational individual from our team. it’s good to see the positives of players in the nfl instead of all the bad stuff. too bad it has to come in this form.

by iseepurplepeople on Jul 30, 2009 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heart

KU good try. I’m glad you gave it your all just to see. How many other people go through kemo and try to continue in sports? Not many. The Vikes should give him a job, a scout or something. Just an inspiration to have around.

GregP

by VikesPma on Jul 30, 2009 8:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The story may not be over...

I read a report stating that the main reason he felt he couldn’t return was a side effect from his treatment that made his feet numb so he could plant well or get any burst off the line. If this is true, and if he still had all the other weapons he previously had other than that, I feel he could potentially beat this thing and return… it would truly be a hollywood ending to an already incredible strory of heart, bravery, and strength…

As for retiring his number, don’t I feel as though that honor should be reserved for the top players, but should include anyone who the team chooses to honor in that manner. We, as fans, love our team, but few of us have ever actually been there, in the locker room, through the season, living it. Only the players and the staff truly know the impact an individual has on the team, not just on the field, but off. Kenechi was an inspiration to all those around him, on and off the field; the perfect role model of what a professional athelete should be, and I would whole heartedly support the retirement of his number…

by Loki Loves Purple on Aug 1, 2009 4:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

DN strives to be the best blog about the Minnesota Vikings on the internet, doing so with a unique blend of insight and analysis, as well as (hopefully) wit and humor. We hope you enjoy the site, and make it your home for Minnesota Vikings info!
Start posting about the Vikings »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

Comcast NFL RedZone Moments from SB Nation

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
SB Nation Survey + Chance to donate $500 to a charity of this community's choice
Small
Draft Needs In-Depth: DT
Small
Vikings Free Agency Strategy
Images_small
Oh God Not This Again, Open Thread

Recent FanPosts

Tommy-kramer-_small
Free $500 Donation to a Vikings Charity
Small
Our Schedule
Small
Joe Montana on Favre's return: Favre coming back, but wants to avoid training camp
Tommy-kramer-_small
How Much Salary Can The Vikings Spend
Articlelarge_small
Repersent Your Team in MHR's Live Mock Draft
Small
Traded Brett Favre to sober him up????
Berserker_nation_small
2010 "Free" Agency
Small
Patriots versus Lions on Thanksgiving Day....
Percy_small
Finally an Overtime Rule that makes sense

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

Mocking The Draft
Ed Dickson NFL Draft scouting report
Gang Green Nation
Jets Want To See More On Anthony Levine
Stampede Blue
March Madness 3/20 Open Thread

SBNation.com Recent Stories

Photo link

A Deeper Look At The 2009 Cowboys Running Game

Photo +1 updates

Rams, Redskins Showing Interest In QB Sam Bradford

Photo +2 updates

Scot McCloughan Confirms He Is Out At 49ers GM

More from SBNation.com >


Head Coach

Dailynorseman_small Gonzo

Coordinators

Dodge_front_small MilCardFan

Victory__small ericj69

Childress_small Anthony21