New York Jets’ legendary center and one of the most beloved figures in franchise history, Nick Mangold, passed away this weekend. Mangold passed from complications of a kidney disease he had been dealing with for a while now. He was 41 years old.
“Nick was more than a legendary center,” said Jets Chairman Woody Johnson, summing up how many Jets fans and players feel. “He was the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade and a cherished member of our Jets family.”
Earlier this year, Mangold revealed he had been battling chronic kidney disease caused by a genetic defect diagnosed in 2006. “I always knew this day would come,” he wrote in a letter to fans, “but I thought I would have more time.”
Mangold was drafted 29th overall by the Jets in 2006 out of Ohio State and immediately became the anchor of the offensive line. Teaming with left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, he helped power the Jets to four winning seasons and two AFC Championship Game appearances from 2006 to 2010.
Durable and dominant, Mangold started 171 games for the Jets, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors. He was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2022 alongside Ferguson and Darrelle Revis and was recently named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
“Nick was the embodiment of strength and leadership,” said Vice Chairman Christopher Johnson. “His character and humor made him unforgettable.”
Former teammate Bart Scott added, “Nick represented the best of us — professionalism, humility, and inclusion. I’ll miss my friend until we meet again.”
Mangold is survived by his wife, Jenny, and their four children — Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte.
“On behalf of the entire organization,” Woody Johnson said, “Nick Mangold will forever be a Jet.”