Kenechi Udeze: The 2009 Minnesota Vikings Story Left Unnoticed

With the first set of OTA's finished up, the Brett Favre talk is still the buzz around town. The press on Thursday, as it has for the past month and a half has been placing a shadow over Winter Park in the shape of a number four and have made it perfectly clear what they want to hear.

As Favre now sits in Mississippi shooting cortisone into his throwing arm and in an effort to release a tendon to cease pain in his arm, five-year Viking veteran Kenechi Udeze is at Organized Team Activities and practicing on the field for the first time in over a year.

Kenechi had originally been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on February 11, 2008 right after the 2007 season was officially in the books.

It was a big worry that Kenechi's life was in jeopardy. To the pleasant surprise of the Vikings and Kenechi, the disease was an acute form and would only require a matching bone marrow transplant to make a full recovery. Fortunately, Kenechi's brother, Thomas Barnes, was a matching donor and was very willing to to help his brother, Kenechi.

On July 1, 2008, the bone marrow transplant was successfully transmitted to Kenechi and he was out of the hospital by July 24, 2008. The Vikings also at that time placed Kenechi on the injury reserve list and offered to pay the defensive end's salary even though they had no requirement to pay him while he was unable to play.

On November 9, 2008, Kenechi returned to the Metrodome as the Vikings honorary captain against the Green Bay Packers which the Vikings won 28-27. It was at this game that Kenechi announced that after he tied up his educational ties at USC, that the defensive end would be back on the gridiron in 2009.

The November 10th Pioneer Press reported an interviewwith Kenechi in which he stated "You know what? I'll be back next year. The one thing that's slowing me down are my feet. They're slow to a lot of the treatment.

"But everything is going to be just fine. I don't see myself not being a part of this team next year. I'm really glad to be back a part of it, and I was blessed enough to get out the hospital and start my road to recovery." 

Udeze was unavailable to reporters after this past Thursday's workout, but Childress praised the defensive end's determination and courage in making his comeback.

"It's inspiring when you talk about a guy that 365 days ago was in the middle of intensive chemotherapy fighting for his life," Childress said. "Put that into perspective. That was before he could even be considered for a bone marrow transplant. To be playing professional football back on the field kind of defies description."

Kenechi's career began at the University of Southern California where he was a three-year starter for the Trojans. He was remembered most for helping his team to a 2004 Rose Bowl victory as a junior. It was after that season that Kenechi entered himself into the 2004 NFL Draft.

He finished 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. He also was a 2003 Ted Hendricks Award finalist. The Ted Hendricks award is awarded to the top defensive end in the country.

The Vikings selected Udeze in the first round as the 20th pick overall. In his rookie year, Kenechi started 15 games while recording 36 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble and one pass deflected.

However, in his second year, Udeze only played three games before tearing cartilage in his left knee which forced him off the field for the remainder of the 2005 season.

Upon his return in 2006, Kenechi resumed his starting role starting in 15 games, recording 29 tackles, but no sacks. In 2007 however, he regained his leg strength and once again started 15 games with 47 tackles, five sacks and one interception.

I myself find it interesting that a man like this could be overshadowed by the immaturity of the media and Brett Favre. When a true story of adversity comes along, no one pays attention to the guy who fought for more then just a spot in the NFL Hall of Fame, but fought for his very life.

If I had the opportunity, I would love to ask him about his experience with this whole ordeal.

1. "Kenechi, what was your initial reaction when you discovered you had lymphoblastic leukemia? What was your reaction when you discovered it was acute and receding?"
2. "What was your initail reaction when your brother offered to do the bone marrow transplant?"
3. "What was your reaction to being able to make a full recovery and return to the Vikings?"
4. "Was there anyone in particular that stood by you through this whole ordeal? Who/What was your biggest inspiration?"
5. "With Jared Allen now a member of the Vikings, where do you see yourself on this team?"
6. "I don't mean to ask this overused question, but what do you think of the Brett Favre situation?"
7. "If you return as a starter, do you think you would have the ability to play in 16 games a season like you did twice before being diagnosed?"
8. "Any comments on the Vikings coaching staff supporting you financially through this endeavor?"
9. "Do you have any goals for the '09 season?"
10. "How are you feeling now in your return to football?"

By being on the field, Kenechi has accomplished a great feat in itself by becoming only the second athlete to ever return to professional sports after being diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia.

Childress said that the ceiling for Udeze is however high he wants to take it. It is presumable that he will challenge left end, Ray Edwards for the starting job or at least make an effort to back up both Jared Allen and Edwards.