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Nick Mangold, a beloved player during his eleven-year career with the New York Jets, has passed away at the young age of 41.

Medical Battle and Community Appeal

Earlier in the month, Mangold shared he had been undergoing dialysis and needed a kidney transplant. He sought support from supporters of the Jets and Ohio State, where he was a star in college.

“In 2006, I was found to have a hereditary condition that has led to chronic kidney disease. After a rough summer, I’m on dialysis as we search for a kidney transplant,” he wrote at the time. “I was always aware this day would come, but I hoped I would have had additional years.

“Unfortunately, I do not have any family able to donate at this time, so this is why I’m appealing to you, our Jets and Ohio State followers. I am in need of a kidney donor with type O blood.”

Storied NFL Career

Mangold was a first-round pick out of Ohio State for the Jets in 2006. He spent his whole professional football career with the franchise, earning 7 trips to the Pro Bowl and was an All-Pro on two occasions before he stepped away in 2016. During that time, the center led an O-line alongside D’Brickashaw Ferguson that contributed to the Jets reach two AFC championship games. He is presently a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mangold’s resilience was universally praised and he sat out only 4 games in his initial ten seasons in the league.

“Nick was more than a legendary center,” franchise ownership said in a release. “He was the heartbeat of our O-line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness characterized an period of Jets football. Off the field, Nick’s humor, kindness, and unwavering loyalty made him a treasured member of our broader Jets family.”

Fan Favorite and Later Life

Mangold was a massive favorite with fans, recognized for his flowing locks, facial hair, philanthropy and engaging character. He was engaged on social media and was seldom spotted without his backwards baseball cap. He was a regular visitor to Jets games after his retirement – he downed a beer while being honored into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2022 – and remained in the region when his playing days were over, taking on the role of an assistant coach for Delbarton High School in Morristown, New Jersey.

“You get to mold young men into adults and teach the sport of football, but also impart them a little bit about life as you go along,” Mangold told a newspaper in 2024.

Former coach Rex Ryan, who led Mangold at the Jets, was emotional as he remembered his former player on a sports show. “It’s brutal,” Ryan commented. “Such a wonderful young man. I had the honor of coaching him for all six years with the Jets. I recall it was obvious I was getting fired, my final match, Mangold’s hurt – like, seriously hurt – and he approaches to me and says, ‘I’m playing this game.’ And he wanted to play for me.”

Personal Life and Impact

Mangold was married to his childhood sweetheart, Jenny, with whom he had four children, Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte. His sister, Holley, competed for USA at the London Games in the sport of weightlifting.

When he announced his condition he praised his family, saying they had “been my rock every phase of the way. This circumstance has reminded me how fortunate I am to have such an amazing home, friends, and network behind me.”