Former Viking Udeze joins Seahawks as coaching intern

A first-round pick in 2004, Udeze had to retire to battle leukemia.

February 15, 2012 at 4:29PM

Kenechi Udeze, the Vikings' first-round pick in 2004, has joined the Seahawks as a coaching intern, reuniting him with Seattle head coach Pete Carroll, his college coach at Southern Cal.

Udeze, whose NFL career was cut short because of leukemia, last played in 2007. He has been working as an assistant strength coach at the University of Washington.

Udeze, 28, was limited to just 51 games as an NFL player. All reports indicate his health is doing well and his coaching career is beginning to blossom. The former defensive end will work with Seattle's defensive line. He'll also see some familiar faces in Tarvaris Jackson and Sidney Rice, current Seahawks and former teammates of Udeze's.

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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