Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold died on Saturday at the age of 41. The football team announced his death on Sunday following his battle with kidney disease, with former head coach Rex Ryan remembering Mangold in an emotional tribute.
Appearing on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, Ryan, 62, called Mangold’s death “brutal” and had the “pleasure of coaching him for all six years with the Jets.”
Holding back tears, Ryan remembers when Mangold pushed ahead to play for his former coach despite an injury when the football team was coming to an end.
“He wanted to play for me,” Ryan said. “That’s what I remember about this kid. He was awesome, and just way too young.”
Ryan went on to call the football athlete “awesome” and “far too young” in relation to his death. As fellow co-hosts comforted Ryan, he said, “I feel so bad for his wife and family.”
Rex Ryan mourns the loss of his former player Nick Mangold following his death from kidney disease. pic.twitter.com/xhpJJ0yue3
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2025
Mangold is survived by his wife, Lauren Mangold, whom he married in 2011, and his three children.
In the statement released by the Jets on Oct. 26, it revealed Mangold had died a day prior due to complications from kidney disease. Over the past two weeks, the football star made his battle with the disease public to fans, asking for a kidney donor.
Mangold was undergoing dialysis at the time. He announced having been diagnosed with a genetic defect that led to chronic kidney disease in 2006.
He was the 29th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. He played 171 games before he announced his retirement in 2016 and was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2022. Ryan was Jets head coach from 2009 until 2014.
“Nick was more than a legendary center,” said Jets Chairman Woody Johnson. “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.”
