What you need to know
Former New York Jets player Nick Mangold has passed away. He was 41 years old.
The retired NFL star’s former team announced the news of his death in a news release.
Mangold passed away on Saturday, Oct. 25, due to complications from kidney disease, according to the Jets. The announcement came just 10 days after Mangold reached out to his fan base asking for a kidney donor while undergoing dialysis.
“Nick was more than just a legendary center,” Jets president Woody Johnson said. “He was a mainstay on our offensive line for 10 years and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness defined an era of Jets football.”
“Off the field, Nick’s wit, warmth and unwavering loyalty have made him a valued member of the extended Jets family,” he added.
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The New York Jets shared a health update on Instagram on Oct. 14 on Mangold’s behalf, explaining that his kidney issues began nearly 10 years ago.
“This is not an easy message to share, but I want to be open about what’s going on with me and my health,” Mangold said. “In 2006, I was diagnosed with a genetic defect that causes chronic kidney disease.”
“After a tough summer, I’m on dialysis in hopes of getting a kidney transplant,” he continued. “I knew this day would come someday, but I wished I had more time.”
The player added, “Unfortunately, we do not have family members who can donate at this time, so we would like to reach out to everyone in our New York Jets community.”
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Those willing to donate a kidney must have type O blood and fill out a form at Columbia University Irving Medical Center with their full name, Nicholas Mangold, and date of birth, Jan. 13, 1984, he said.
Mangold said at the time that he was “very grateful to anyone who would consider donating” and thanked his “incredible family, friends and community.”
The Ohio State native was selected 29th overall out of the state in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played in 171 games with the Jets, made seven Pro Bowls, and retired after the 2016 season.
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After retiring, he was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2022.
Last week, Mangold was announced as one of 52 modern-day players currently being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“On behalf of the entire Johnson family and the New York Jets organization, we extend our deepest condolences to Jenny and their four children (Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte), as well as Nick’s extended family, friends, and everyone who loved him,” Johnson said in a New York Jets news release.
“Nick Mangold will forever be a Jet,” he added.
