Nick Mangold, the seven-time Pro Bowl center who anchored the New York Jets’ offensive line for over a decade, died Saturday night, October 25, 2025, from complications of kidney disease. He was 41 years old.
The Jets announced Mangold’s death on Sunday, just hours before the team secured its first victory of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. The news came less than two weeks after the beloved center publicly revealed his health battle and appealed for a kidney donor through social media on October 14.
In his letter addressed to the Jets and Ohio State communities, Mangold explained he had been diagnosed with a genetic defect in 2006 that led to chronic kidney disease. He indicated that after a difficult summer, he was undergoing dialysis while searching for a transplant. “I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time,” he wrote in the October message, noting he had no relatives able to donate and needed a person with type O blood.
Jets owner Woody Johnson expressed the organization’s profound loss in a statement released Sunday. “Nick was more than a legendary center,” Johnson said. “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.”
Mangold’s football career began when the Jets selected him 29th overall in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Immediately pairing with left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, the fourth pick of that same draft, Mangold helped transform the Jets’ offensive line into one of the league’s most formidable units. The duo anchored three playoff teams from 2006 to 2010, including two squads that reached the AFC Championship Game.
The Centerville, Ohio native became known as much for his reliability as his distinctive appearance, sporting a flowing blond beard and hair that made him instantly recognizable on the field. He started 171 games for the Jets over 11 seasons, including seven playoff contests. His ironman mentality defined his career—Mangold played in every Jets game from 2006 until a high ankle sprain against Jacksonville in 2011 ended his streak at 89 consecutive games. Two games later, he returned to start the next 59 games before missing another.
Mangold earned first-team All-Pro honors following the 2009 and 2010 seasons and second-team recognition in 2011. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls from 2008 to 2015, placing him just one shy of the franchise record held by Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Winston Hill. The Jets inducted Mangold into their Ring of Honor on September 25, 2022, during a halftime ceremony at MetLife Stadium against Cincinnati, as part of a 2022 class that also included D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Darrelle Revis.
Former Jets coach Rex Ryan, who led the team from 2009 to 2014, fought through tears while discussing Mangold on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. Ryan recalled how, during his final game as Jets coach, Mangold insisted on playing despite being injured, telling his coach he wanted to be on the field for him. Ryan described that moment as emblematic of Mangold’s character and commitment.
Ferguson, who spent his entire career alongside Mangold on the offensive line, reflected on their bond both on and off the field. He noted how much of their lives were spent together, from the gridiron to family events, including Mangold’s wedding. Ferguson emphasized the difficulty of processing the loss of someone who had been such an integral part of his life.
Former Jets linebacker Bart Scott, who played with Mangold from 2009 to 2012 during the team’s most successful years under Ryan, praised his teammate’s character. Scott highlighted Mangold’s ability to recognize everyone’s value and his willingness to meet people where they were, calling inclusion his favorite trait among the center’s many qualities.
After a high ankle injury limited him to eight games in 2016, the Jets released Mangold in 2017. He did not play that season but signed a one-day contract with the team in 2018 to officially retire as a member of the organization. Following retirement, Mangold remained deeply involved with the Jets, appearing regularly at team and fan events throughout the New York area, where he had planted roots with his family.
Earlier this month, Mangold was among 52 modern-era players who advanced in consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. The list will be narrowed to 25 semifinalists, then to 20 finalists, before the announcement of four to eight new members the day before Super Bowl LX.
Jets vice chairman Christopher Johnson described Mangold as the embodiment of consistency, strength, and leadership. He emphasized that while Mangold’s on-field contributions were extraordinary, his character, humility, and humor off the field made him truly unforgettable to the organization and its fans.
Mangold is survived by his wife, Jenny, and their four children: Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte.
