Jets legend Nick Mangold dies at 41, two weeks after revealing kidney transplant battle

Oct 26, 2025, 12:03 PM

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Former Jets center Nick Mangold has died at the age of 41. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Jets legend Nick Mangold died on Saturday night just two weeks after he publicly revealed he needed a kidney transplant.

Mangold was 41 years old. 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,” Mangold said in a statement.

Mangold, who played center, was a first-round pick by the Jets in 2006. He went on to be one of the key pieces in a team that went to the playoffs three times and made it to two AFC Championship Games. He was a two-time first-team All-Pro selection and seven-time Pro Bowler.

“Nick was more than a legendary center,” Jets chairman Woody 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. 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. The Jets are facing the Bengals on Sunday in Cincinnati, not far from where Mangold grew up in Centerville, Ohio. He later starred at Ohio State.

James Thornton

Editor-in-Chief