CINCINNATI — Jets legend Nick Mangold died on Saturday night from complications of kidney disease, just 12 days after revealing he needed a transplant.
Mangold was 41 years old.
The Jets selected Mangold in the first round of the 2006 draft and he quickly endeared himself to the organization and its fans with his toughness and everyman persona. Mangold had a trademark look with his long hair, backward hat and bushy blonde beard.
He spent 11 seasons with the Jets and was a key piece of the 2009 and 2010 teams that went to the AFC Championship game. Mangold was twice selected as an All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl seven times.
“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.”
Mangold retired after the 2016 season and was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2022. He capped off his acceptance speech at MetLife Stadium by cracking open a beer.
The Centerville, Ohio, native had a strong sense of humor and always kept his teammates laughing. Mangold used to walk around the Jets locker room in a plush green robe with his name and jersey number, 74, on it.
“Nick was a jokester man, he always kept everything funny,” former teammate Damien Woody said Sunday. “He always had those one-liners that would get you in the moment. Man, he was just such a great dude. He was a family guy that would give you the shirt off his back. You couldn’t ask for a better man, a better teammate.”
On Oct. 14, Mangold announced that he had been diagnosed in 2006 with a genetic defect that led to chronic kidney disease. He said he had a “rough summer” and was undergoing dialysis while seeking a kidney transplant.
“I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time,” he said in a statement.
That day he told The Post’s Steve Serby that he was not on the national transplant registry and finding a suitable kidney was more about improving his quality of life rather than saving it.
Woody said he was shocked when he found out that Mangold had died. The two did not live far from each other in New Jersey and he saw him recently.
“It was like a month ago to be honest with you,” Woody said. “He looked tired, but he was the same old Nick, laughing and joking. Man, it just happened so fast.”
Former Jets coach Rex Ryan broke down on ESPN Sunday when talking about Mangold.
“It’s brutal. Such a great young man. I had the pleasure of coaching him for all six years [I was coach] with the Jets,” Ryan said. “I remember, it was obvious I was getting fired, my last game Mangold’s injured — like injured — and he comes to me and says, ‘I’m playing this game.’ And he went in and played for me. That’s what I remember about this kid. He was awesome and just way too young. I feel so bad for his wife and family.”
As beloved as he was off the field, Mangold was just as valuable on it. He did not miss a game in his first five seasons and was the key cog in a Jets rushing attack that finished No. 1 in the NFL in 2009.
“Nick was one of the best centers of his generation,” Woody said. “I mean, he was one of the best linemen that I ever played with. He was so cerebral, like the way he could just see things with the defense and was able to put everybody in the right position.”
When the Jets drafted Mark Sanchez in 2009, Mangold helped him by calling the protections. Sanchez would often check with Mangold at the line of scrimmage for adjustments.
“He was one of the rare people I’ve ever met where he was joyful and affable and yet tough and dependable as they came,” former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. “There’s no way we would’ve had the success we had without him because he was like the perfect person to be a leader in New York. He had broad shoulders and in the good times and bad times he held people accountable, but he did it in a way that people really enjoyed being around him.”
Mangold is survived by his wife Jenny and four children — Matthew, Eloise, Thomas and Charlotte.
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