The Life, Career, and Legacy of Jets Center Nick Mangold

New York Jets fans everywhere are mourning the loss of Nick Mangold. A former All-Pro center, Mangold died on October 25, 2025, due to complications of kidney disease. He was only 41.

Mangold played the entirety of his 11-year career with the Jets, leaving fans with many great memories. Let’s take a look back at the life and career of the Jets legend.

Early Life and Career

Mangold was born on January 13, 1984, in Centerville, Ohio. He attended Archbishop Alter High School, where he excelled in wrestling and shotput.

He was also, of course, a football player, starting three years on both offense and defense for the school’s football team. In his senior season, he earned first-team All-Ohio honors.

Along with high school teammates Mike Nugent and AJ Hawk, each of whom eventually went on to the NFL, Mangold attended Ohio State University. He played 45 games for the school, becoming the starter in his sophomore year when starting center Alex Stepanovich went down with an ankle injury. The sophomore played so well that he remained the starting center even when Stepanovich returned.

Mangold started 33 games in his college career, during which time the Buckeyes won two Big Ten titles and the 2002 national championship. In his senior season, he was selected as the team’s co-captain. Starting every game in 2005 as center, he did not allow a single sack and was a key part of an offense that tallied an average of 422.3 yards per game. His performance earned him recognition as a First Team All-American, and he was later inducted into the Ohio State University Hall of Fame.

Mangold was coached at Ohio State by Jim Tressel, who is now the lieutenant governor of Ohio. Upon hearing of news of Mangold’s death, Tressel wrote on X that he “was everything you could wish for as a teammate, player, son, friend, husband, father, and American.” He added: “Love that man. We lost a great one.”

Joining the Jets

Mangold was selected by the Jets with the 29th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He earned the center job immediately and went on to start every game over his first five seasons. This period saw the franchise’s greatest run of success in recent decades, with the team making the conference championship game in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

His coach during this time, Rex Ryan, said the news of Mangold’s death was “brutal” and that his former center was “such a great young man.” While breaking down in tears, he told a story about how, when Ryan was set to coach what was clear would be his last game as Jets coach, Mangold insisted on playing, despite being injured. “He wanted to play for me,” said the former coach.

Mangold was named a first-team All-Pro in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He added a second-team All-Pro selection in 2011 and was a seven-time Pro Bowler.

Known for his durability, Mangold didn’t miss a game until his sixth season and was sidelined for only four games in his first 10 years in New York. An ankle injury in the 2016 season forced him to sit out for eight games, the first significant chunk of time missed in his career, and the Jets released him the following year. After Mangold didn’t play in 2017, he signed a one-day contract with the Jets in 2018 so that he could retire as a member of the franchise.

Death and Legacy

Unbeknownst to Jets fans, Mangold learned in 2006 that he had a genetic defect. The defect led to his chronic kidney disease.

Less than two weeks before his death, Mangold publicly revealed the diagnosis. After what he called a “rough summer,” he explained he was on dialysis and was hoping to receive a kidney transplant. Because none of his family members could donate their kidneys, he decided to ask for help from the Jets community. “I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time."

Mangold asked Jets fans who met certain criteria to contact the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “I am deeply grateful to anyone that would consider donating.”

Sadly, Mangold didn’t live long enough to accept any generosity that might have come.

Following news of his death, Jets owner Woody Johnson lauded the former center, saying he was “more than a legendary center. 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.” In 2022, the Jets recognized Mangold’s greatness by naming him to the franchise’s prestigious Ring of Honor. He’s also under consideration for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

However, those who knew Mangold also commended the person he was off the field. The 6’4, 307-pound lineman frequently portrayed Santa Claus at the team’s holiday events for kids, and he participated in several charity projects during his time in New York. Johnson noted his “wit, warmth, and unwavering loyalty,” and former teammate Thomas Jones called him “one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”