The New York Jets announced on Sunday the passing of former center Nick Mangold, a franchise legend who won over teammates and fans with his down-to-earth, every-man style. He was forty-one.
Twelve days after publicly pleading for a kidney transplant, Mangold passed away.
In a statement, Jets owner Woody Johnson said, “Nick was more than a legendary center.” For ten years, he was the backbone of our offensive line and a cherished teammate whose toughness and leadership typified a Jets football era. Off the field, Nick was a beloved member of our extended Jets family because of his warmth, humor, and unwavering loyalty.
He revealed on October 14 that he was receiving kidney dialysis after receiving a rare genetic disorder diagnosis in 2006. Since no one in his family had his blood type, he sent a message to the Ohio State and Jets communities requesting a kidney.
At the time, Mangold stated, “I want to be open about what’s been happening with me and my health, even though it’s not an easy message to share.”
Mangold is one of 52 contemporary applicants vying for admission to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mangold was selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft following an All-America career at Ohio State. The Jets also selected D’Brickashaw Ferguson, a left tackle, in the first round of the draft that year.
Also referred to as “Nick & Brick,” they led an offensive line that helped the team make it to the playoffs for the final time in 2006, 2009, and 2010 under coach Rex Ryan.
Mangold, who rose to become one of the NFL’s most decorated centers, was renowned for his toughness and analytical style. He was twice selected to the first team All-Pro and made seven Pro Bowls. He helped rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez overcome his turnover problems and lead the Jets to their first of two consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances in 2009.
In 2022, Mangold was admitted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor. To the delight of the audience, the bearded Mangold, sporting his signature backward baseball cap, broke open a beer can to break up his speech to the stadium. He wore his baseball cap backwards most of the time.
Mangold was renowned for his toughness above all else. Before missing his first game, he played for five years in a row. In his first ten seasons, he missed just four games. In 2016, his final NFL season, he suffered a foot injury that kept him out of eight games.
The Baltimore Ravens showed interest in Mangold after he was cut by the Jets, but he chose to retire after 11 seasons. Out of 176 games, 164 were his starts.
Mangold, a resident of New Jersey, joined the Delbarton High School coaching staff in Morristown, New Jersey.
In 2024, Mangold told the New York Post, “You get to mold boys into men and teach the game of football — but also teach them a little bit about life as you go along.”
