Jets Legend Nick Mangold Remembered by Former Coach Rex Ryan

Ryan tearfully recalled his final game as coach of the Jets, a game where Mangold was sufficiently injured to keep him on the injured list. The bearded center, however, had other ideas.

"I remember, it was obvious I was getting fired, my last game, Mangold's injured. He comes to me and says 'I'm playing this game', and he wanted to play for me," Ryan said. "That's what I remember about this kid, he was awesome and far too young."

Mourning From Around The League

Mangold's untimely death led to prayers and thoughts from all around the league, including longtime teammate Willie Colon, who played guard alongside Mangold in 2013 and 2014.

"When I got the nod from Rex Ryan to come to New York and play, I didn't just want to play for the Jets. I wanted to play with Nick Mangold. I wanted to play besides D'Brickashaw Ferguson, because we were all in the same draft class. We all got drafted in '06 together so we had that kinship," Colon said on SNY this morning.

“On behalf of the entire Johnson family and the New York Jets organization, we offer our sincere condolences to [Mangold’s widow] Jenny, their four children — Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte — as well as to Nick’s extended family, friends, and all who loved him,” said Jets chairman Woody Johnson in a statement.

Mangold wasn't just a great football player, but a great human. He was tough, and served as the emotional and physical anchor of those great Jets teams under Ryan, and missed only four games during his first 10 seasons, a testament to his durability with such a physically demanding position.

Mangold was a gamer, but many teammates described him as highly complex and cerebral, both qualities that translated really well onto the gridiron.

On October 22, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Mangold was one of 52 modern era players to advance to further voting for the 2026 class. Mangold was one of just 36 centers selected in the first round of an NFL draft, being taken with the 29th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft after a standout career with Ohio State.

He made the Pro Bowl in each year from 2008 to 2015, and only allowed 14 sacks and 114 hurries in 6,142 pass-blocking snaps.

A titan of the game on and off the field, Mangold will forever live in the hearts of Jets and Buckeyes fans.