The altitude in Denver can make even the best athletes feel out of breath.
Such was the case for 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound defensive tackle, Ogemdi “OG” Nwagbuo, during a mid-season matchup against a division rival in 2011. Coming to professional football as an undrafted free agent, OG astonishingly went from working a summer job in San Diego to suddenly starting on the defensive line for his hometown team playing on national television.
But something on this October afternoon didn’t feel quite right. Something beyond the altitude. And it was a recurring feeling that had plagued OG off and on since his days playing Division I college football. Shortness of breath, light-headedness, a feeling of exhaustion. Yet, his vitals always looked normal when team doctors and training staff investigated. The perplexing feeling came and went, and like on many other past occasions, he made the most of his time on the field that day in Denver, finishing the game with one tackle in a 29-24 win.
“I remember thinking, ‘I just have to fight through this,’” recalled OG, who is currently a sales representative for medical device company, Medtronic. “I knew something was wrong, but nobody could pinpoint what was actually causing it.”
It would be a decade before doctors would identify a cause.
An Unconventional Path to Football
Growing up in San Diego, OG was more interested in basketball, and didn’t start playing organized football until the end of high school where he played sparingly. He enrolled at a nearby junior college, where football coaches noticed his size and raw potential. After posting two strong seasons in junior college learning the game, OG earned a scholarship to play Division I college football his final two seasons, where he ultimately became a starter.
OG played Division I college football where he started all 12 games as a senior.
Undrafted and unsigned, OG finally got his big opportunity when professional football coaches noticed him while he was working a summer job at a rental car company in San Diego. He joined the practice squad, and within weeks had assumed a starting role on the team, which had been decimated by injuries. OG went on to play for five professional football teams during his career, logging action in 36 games with 6 starts.
“Playing professional football was never a long-term goal for me. It just sort of happened,” said OG. “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to play at that level, but I also knew it was temporary. I wanted to have a plan for life after football.”
During the off-season, OG took part in a business management and entrepreneurial program offered through professional football, which inspired him to later earn a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA).
A Heart Scare
But when OG’s football career came to an end in 2012, his abnormal symptoms (like those he experienced in Denver) persisted. Doctors suspected a heart condition — later identified and confirmed to be atrial fibrillation, or AF — where the upper chambers of the heart beat out of rhythm causing an unusually fast heart rate, quivering, or thumping sensations. AF can also cause blood to pool and form clots which can lead to stroke.
“I was on a variety of medications — taking 8 or 9 pills a day — to help manage my AF,” said OG. “It was a difficult time, and I had just started a career in medtech and was simultaneously raising my son.”
Scheduled to have a cardiac ablation a few weeks later, OG suddenly experienced a stroke in 2021 caused by his AF. After recovery and following a cardiac ablation, doctors recommended that OG receive a long-term continuous heart monitor so they could better manage his medication regimen and have consistent visibility to his heart condition. OG received the Medtronic LINQ II™ insertable cardiac monitor (ICM), which is placed just underneath the skin in the chest and monitors the heart continuously for up to 4.5 years.
OG now works in medtech — for the company that makes his heart monitor.
“I felt an immediate peace of mind knowing my doctors could keep tabs on my heart at all times, letting me know if something was wrong, or if my medication regimen needed to be adjusted,” said OG.
Staying Active
Today, OG lives an active life. He still likes to exercise, and has picked up some new activities, too — like yoga and cooking. His ICM monitors his heart continuously 24/7, and he’s now taking just one pill per day to manage his AF. When he’s not supporting cases in the operating room helping other patients with their own health conditions, OG enjoys spending quality time with his teenage son, who, like his dad, also plays football. OG helped coach his son’s team to the state championship final in 2023.
OG and his son enjoy spending time together, staying active. “I actually feel better now than I did when I was playing football,” said OG. “Whether I’m doing yoga or coaching my son’s football team, I’m thankful to be here, and can hopefully be a good role model for others.”
To learn more about the LINQ™ family of ICMs, visit the Medtronic heart monitor site online.
Always talk to your doctor about risks, diagnosis, and treatment information.
Possible risks associated with the implant of the LINQ™ Family ICMs include, but are not limited to, infection at the surgical site, device migration, erosion of the device through the skin and/or sensitivity to the device material. Important safety information is available online.