The NFL world continues to mourn the loss of Nick Mangold. The former New York Jets center passed away on October 25 from complications related to chronic kidney disease at the age of 41.
An All-American at Ohio State, Mangold was selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Jets. New York had two first-round picks that year, adding Mangold and offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson. Nick and Brick would anchor the Jets’ offensive line for the next decade.
After Mangold’s passing, fellow center Jason Kelce paid tribute on his New Heights podcast. “Nick was phenomenal. He was unbelievable in pass protection, an unbelievably smart leader, and he would murder people in the run game. He was unbelievable when he was in the NFL, and he was unbelievable at Ohio State,” Kelce said. “It’s just a travesty that this happened at such a young age.”
Speaking with his brother Travis, Kelce reflected on Mangold’s talent at the center position. “You wanna talk about one of the stalwart, best offensive linemen to ever play the game. A lot of people come up and tell me, ‘You’re the best center to ever play.’ Like, I get that from other people. And it’s hard to receive that, because I know in my heart that Nick Mangold at his best was 10 times the player that I ever was. Like, I could never be that dominant at the center position.
“When you think about offensive linemen over the past two decades, like the best of the best, you don’t look any further than Nick Mangold,” Kelce added.
Mangold made seven Pro Bowls in his 11-year career and was a fixture at center for the Jets, missing just four games over his first 10 years in the NFL. He was a key contributor to New York’s success under coach Rex Ryan, helping the team reach the AFC Championship game in back-to-back seasons.
However, the Jets fell just short of the Super Bowl, losing to the Indianapolis Colts in 2009 and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. The Jets made the playoffs three times during Mangold’s tenure but have not reached the postseason since advancing to the Championship Game in 2010.
Mangold was the starting center for New York during the team’s last winning season in 2015. While a Super Bowl title eluded him in New York, he won a National Championship with Ohio State in 2002.
In recognition of his outstanding career and contributions, the Jets inducted Mangold into their Ring of Honor in 2022.
Nick Mangold’s legacy as one of the best centers in NFL history remains firmly intact, and he will be deeply missed by fans, teammates, and the football community alike.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/new-york-jets/jets-news-jason-kelce-touching-tribute-nick-mangold
