Mangold, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was enshrined in the Jets’ ring of honor in 2022.
Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold, one of the franchise’s most popular and decorated players who helped lead the team to the AFC championship game twice, has died, the team announced Sunday. He was 41.
The Jets said in a statement on social media that Mangold died Saturday night from complications of kidney disease.
His death comes less than two weeks after the two-time All-Pro selection announced on social media that he had kidney disease and needed a transplant. He said he didn’t have any relatives who were able to donate, so he went public with the request for a donor with type O blood.
“I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time,” he wrote in an October 14 message directed to the Jets and Ohio State communities.
“While this has been a tough stretch, I’m staying positive and focused on the path ahead. I’m looking forward to better days and getting back to full strength soon. I’ll see you all at MetLife Stadium & The Shoe very soon.”
Mangold said he was diagnosed with a genetic defect in 2006 that led to chronic kidney disease. He was on dialysis while waiting for a transplant.
“Nick was more than a legendary center,” Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. “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.”
The Jets, looking for their first win of the season, announced the news about an hour before kickoff of their game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Mangold grew up in Centerville, Ohio, about 45 miles north of Cincinnati.
Mangold was a first-round draft pick of the Jets in 2006 out of Ohio State and was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times. He helped lead New York within one win of the Super Bowl during both the 2009 and 2010 seasons and was enshrined in the Jets’ ring of honor in 2022.
Mangold was the anchor of New York’s offensive line his entire playing career, with all 11 seasons spent with the Jets. He started every game during his first five seasons and missed only four games in his first 10 years before an ankle injury limited his final season, 2016, to eight games.
Mangold was released by the team in 2017 and didn’t play that season. The following year, he signed a one-day contract with the Jets to officially retire as a member of the team.
“Absolutely gutted,” former wide receiver David Nelson, who played with Mangold for two seasons, wrote on X. “One of the best guys I’ve ever met. True legend on and off the field.”
Mangold’s No. 74 jersey remained a popular one for fans to wear at games, even nine years after playing his final NFL game.
His long, blond hair and bushy beard made him instantly recognizable and his gritty, outstanding play on the field made him a fan favorite. He was active with charitable events and often dressed as Santa Claus for the team’s holiday celebrations for children.
“Nick was the embodiment of consistency, strength, and leadership,” Jets vice chairman Christopher Johnson said in a statement. “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.”
Mangold is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their four children Matthew, Eloise, Thomas and Charlotte.
The rapid deterioration from public transplant request to death within two weeks illustrates the critical urgency of end-stage kidney disease, where patients on dialysis face imminent mortality risk when complications arise before donor organs become available.
The 2006 genetic defect diagnosis coinciding with his NFL draft year means Mangold played his entire 11-season professional career while managing chronic kidney disease, an achievement requiring extraordinary physical toughness and medical management.
The lack of suitable family donors forced Mangold’s public appeal, reflecting the reality that genetic kidney diseases often affect multiple family members who cannot serve as donors or that blood type incompatibilities prevent close relatives from donating.
The type O blood requirement significantly limited Mangold’s donor pool, as type O recipients can only receive organs from type O donors unlike other blood types that have more compatibility options.
The “I thought I would have had more time” sentiment captures the tragic miscalculation many dialysis patients make about their remaining lifespan, as dialysis provides temporary support but cannot indefinitely replace kidney function.
Mangold’s Ohio roots and Centerville upbringing 45 miles from Cincinnati made the timing of the Jets-Bengals game announcement particularly poignant, as the news reached his hometown community during a game against their regional NFL team.
The seven Pro Bowl selections and two-time All-Pro honors demonstrate elite performance at center, a position requiring intelligence, strength, and durability that Mangold maintained despite the underlying kidney disease weakening his body.
The 2009 and 2010 AFC Championship game appearances represent the Jets’ closest approach to Super Bowl success in decades, with Mangold’s offensive line play protecting quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and enabling playoff runs that defined the franchise’s modern era.
The one-day contract retirement tradition allowed Mangold to formally end his career as a Jet rather than being remembered for unsuccessful tryouts with other teams, preserving his legacy as a franchise icon.
The four children left behind, including Matthew, Eloise, Thomas and Charlotte, may face genetic testing to determine whether they inherited the kidney disease that claimed their father at age 41.
