Buckeye Nation Mourns Former Ohio State Star Nick Mangold
Buckeye Nation is grieving the loss of one of its legends. Former Ohio State and New York Jets center Nick Mangold has passed away at the age of 41 following complications from kidney disease.
The news has sent shockwaves through the Ohio State community and the football world. Former teammate Jay Richardson described the news as “super shocking, super sad.”
“We are all really just feeling for Nick and his family,” Richardson said.
For those who shared the locker room with him, Mangold was not only an elite lineman but also a true brother.
“The Buckeye brotherhood took a huge loss today,” Richardson added.
Richardson and Mangold first met as high school football all-stars and joined Ohio State together in the 2002 recruiting class. The same year the Buckeyes won a national championship. Mangold made his mark early, earning playing time on that title-winning team as a freshman, while many teammates redshirted.
After dominating at Ohio State, Mangold’s career soared in the NFL, where he became a Pro Bowl center with the New York Jets. Richardson, who later reunited with Mangold in New York, recalled his incredible growth:
“He went from being almost an undersized center to one of the best in the NFL. It was inspiring to watch.”
Tributes have poured in from both Columbus and New York, with fans and teammates honoring Mangold’s leadership, humor, and kindness.
“Anybody that played with him or knew him will tell you he was a special guy – funny, sharp, and deeply caring,” Richardson said.
Mangold leaves behind his wife and four children.
His passing comes just weeks after publicly revealing he was battling kidney disease and in need of a transplant from a donor with type O blood.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Richardson said. “Nothing prepares you for losing someone so young.”
The Buckeye Nation, former teammates, and fans across the country are offering heartfelt condolences to his family as they remember a man who left a lasting legacy both on and off the field.
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