A former NFL player lost his young wife one month after they got married. Twelve-year NFL veteran Chris Draft lost his wife, Keasha Rutledge-Draft, to lung cancer at the tender age of 38 on Dec. 27.

"My wife, (La)Keasha Monique Rutledge Draft, passed away today at 12:04 pm. RIP Sweetie," Draft said on his website.

Keasha, who was in a wheelchair, wheeled her way down the aisle on Nov. 27 when the couple got married.

Draft was a sixth-round draft pick in 1998 and played for five NFL teams. He speaks every year at the NFL Rookie Symposium to offer advice to new players in the NFL. The 35-year-old has participated in and launched several projects geared toward helping kids across the country.

"Strong is too pale, too shallow and too small of a word to describe Keasha's vibrancy," Draft said on his website. "Quite simply, she was ferocious. She fiercely held onto life, and love with a forcefulness that was absolutely awe-inspiring and completely breathtaking."

Services were held this past Saturday in South Carolina.

Watch footage from the wedding here:

Keasha & Chris Draft Wedding Trailer from KRJ PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

Read more at NFL.com.

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