Jets Legend Nick Mangold Passes Away at 41 While Pursuing Kidney Transplant
Nick Mangold, an adored athlete during his 11-season career with the Jets franchise, has passed away at the young age of 41.
Medical Battle and Public Appeal
Earlier this month, Mangold revealed he had been receiving dialysis and required a kidney transplant. He sought support from fans of the Jets and Ohio State, where he excelled in his collegiate years.
“Back in 2006, I was diagnosed to have a genetic defect that has resulted in chronic kidney disease. After a challenging summer, I’m undergoing dialysis as we look for a kidney transplant,” he stated at the time. “I always knew this day would come, but I believed I would have had longer.
“Sadly, I do not have any relatives willing to donate at this time, so this is why I’m turning to you, our Jets and Ohio State families. I am in search of a kidney donor with O-type blood.”
Illustrious 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 team, earning 7 trips to the Pro Bowl and was a league All-Pro on two occasions before he retired in 2016. During that period, the center fortified an O-line together with D’Brickashaw Ferguson that helped the Jets advance to two AFC championship games. He is presently a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mangold’s resilience was highly respected and he sat out only four games in his first 10 seasons in the league.
“Nick was more than a legendary center,” the team’s owner stated in a statement. “He was the core of our O-line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose guidance and grit defined an era of Jets football. Away from the game, Nick’s wit, warmth, and steadfast dedication made him a cherished member of our broader Jets family.”
Beloved Figure and Later Life
Mangold was a huge favourite with supporters, known for his long hair, facial hair, philanthropy and outgoing character. He was engaged on social media and was seldom spotted without his backwards baseball cap. He was a regular visitor to Jets matches after his retirement – he downed a beer while being honored into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2022 – and remained in the area when his career were over, taking on the role of an coach for Delbarton High School in Morristown, New Jersey.
“You get to mold boys into men and teach the game of football, but also impart them a something about the world as you go along,” Mangold shared with a newspaper in 2024.
Former head coach Rex Ryan, who led Mangold at the Jets, was in tears as he remembered his ex- player on television. “It’s heartbreaking,” Ryan said. “Such a wonderful person. I had the pleasure of coaching him for the full six seasons with the Jets. I recall it was clear I was getting released, my final match, Mangold’s injured – like, injured – and he comes to me and says, ‘I’m participating in this game.’ And he wanted to play for me.”
Family Life and Legacy
Mangold was wed to his childhood sweetheart, Jenny, with whom he had four kids, Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte. His sibling, Holley, competed for USA at the 2012 Olympics in weightlifting.
When he announced his condition he thanked his loved ones, stating they had “been my rock every phase of the way. This circumstance has made me realize how lucky I am to have such an amazing home, companions, and network behind me.”