Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold, who is in the team’s Ring of Honor, has died, the team announced on Sunday. He was 41.
Mangold’s death came nearly two weeks after he posted on social media that he was looking for a kidney transplant.
On Oct. 14, Mangold announced he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, and he was undergoing kidney dialysis after initially being diagnosed in 2006.
“This isn’t an easy message to share, but I want to be open about what’s been happening with me and my health,” Mangold said at the time.
Mangold asked for help from Jets and Ohio State fans because he couldn’t find a match who shared his blood type.
“Nick was more than a legendary center,” Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a statement Sunday. “He was the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness defined an era of Jets football. Off the field, Nick’s wit, warmth, and unwavering loyalty made him a cherished member of our extended Jets family.”
Mangold was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-Pro during his NFL career from 2006-16, all with the Jets. He is among the 52 modern-era candidates that are being considered for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year.
“I had the pleasure of coaching him for all six (of my) years with the Jets,” Rex Ryan, the Jets’ head coach from 2009-13, said Sunday on ESPN, choking back tears.
“It was obvious I was getting fired. My last game, Mangold’s injured - like injured - and he comes to me and he says, ‘I’m playing this game.’ And he wanted to play for me. That’s what I remember about this kid. He was awesome, and just way too young.”
The Jets drafted Mangold in 2006 in the first round out of Ohio State. He started and played in every Jets game from 2006-2011, which included 89 regular-season games and seven playoff games.
Mangold, along with Jets tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who was also drafted the same year, helped form one of the better offensive lines in the NFL at the time. They were both catalysts in helping the Jets make the playoffs in 2006, 2009 and 2010, with the latter two culminating in AFC Championship appearances.
“He was the face of the Jets. He was the captain,” former Jets guard Willie Colon said Sunday on SNY.
“When I got the nod from Rex Ryan to come to New York and play, I didn’t just want to play for the Jets. I wanted to play with Nick Mangold. I wanted to play besides D’Brickashaw Ferguson, because we were all in the same draft class. We all got drafted in ’06 together, so we had that kinship," Colon said.
Mangold was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2022. He was honored in the Jets’ third game of that season against the Bengals. After he was released by the Jets in 2016, Mangold retired after 11 seasons.
“Nick was the embodiment of consistency, strength and leadership,” said Jets Vice Chairman Christopher Johnson. “For over a decade, he anchored our offensive line with unmatched skill and determination, earning the respect of teammates, opponents and fans alike. His contributions on the field were extraordinary - but it was his character, humility and humor off the field that made him unforgettable.”