🔗 Share this article New York Jets Icon Nick Mangold Passes Away at 41 While Pursuing Kidney Transplant Nick Mangold, an adored athlete during his 11-season tenure with the Jets franchise, has passed away at the age of 41. Health Struggle and Public Appeal In early announcements, Mangold disclosed he had been undergoing dialysis and needed a kidney transplant. He sought assistance from supporters of the Jets and Ohio State, where he was a star in his collegiate years. “In 2006, I was diagnosed to have a hereditary condition that has resulted in chronic kidney disease. After a rough summer, I’m on dialysis as we look for a kidney transplant,” he stated at the time. “I was always aware this day would come, but I believed I would have had additional years. “Unfortunately, I do not have any relatives willing to donate at this time, so this is why I’m reaching out to you, our NY Jets and Ohio State communities. I am in search of a kidney donor with type O blood.” Illustrious Football Career Mangold was a top draft selection out of Ohio State for the Jets in 2006. He spent his entire 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 alongside D’Brickashaw Ferguson that helped the Jets advance to two AFC championship games. He is currently a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mangold’s durability was highly respected and he missed only 4 games in his initial ten seasons in the league. “Nick was more than a iconic center,” franchise ownership said in a release. “He was the core of our O-line for a decade and a respected teammate whose guidance and toughness defined an era of Jets football. Away from the game, Nick’s wit, kindness, and steadfast dedication made him a treasured member of our extended Jets family.” Fan Favorite and Post-Retirement Life Mangold was a huge favourite with fans, known for his long hair, beard, charitable work and outgoing personality. He was engaged on digital platforms and was seldom spotted without his backwards baseball cap. He was a regular attendee to Jets matches after his playing days – he chugged a beer while being inducted 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 young men into men and instruct the game of football, but also impart them a little bit about the world as you go along,” Mangold shared with the press in 2024. Ex- coach Rex Ryan, who led Mangold at the Jets, was emotional as he remembered his former player on television. “It’s brutal,” Ryan said. “Such a great 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 injured – like, seriously hurt – and he comes to me and says, ‘I’m playing this game.’ And he desired to play for me.” Family Life and Impact Mangold was married to his childhood sweetheart, Jenny, with whom he had four kids, Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte. His sibling, Holley, represented USA at the 2012 Olympics in weightlifting. When he announced his condition he paid tribute to his family, saying they had “been my support every phase of the way. This circumstance has made me realize how fortunate I am to have such an incredible family, companions, and network behind me.”