The New York Jets paid tribute to the late Nick Mangold with a heartfelt ceremony prior to their game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The tribute took place at MetLife Stadium, where Mangold”s family, including his wife Jennifer and their four children, donned green and white jerseys featuring his number 74.
During the pregame coin toss, Mangold”s family was honored at midfield, marking a poignant moment for the Jets organization and its fans. Mangold, a two-time All-Pro center, passed away on October 27 at the age of 41 due to complications from kidney disease. His death occurred shortly after he publicly disclosed his health struggles and appealed for a kidney transplant, highlighting the urgency of his situation.
Before the national anthem, the Jets unveiled a massive banner displaying the number 74, accompanied by a large image of Mangold in the stands. A video tribute was presented, featuring former teammate D”Brickashaw Ferguson, who shared a few words in remembrance of his dear friend and fellow player. Ferguson and Mangold were both first-round draft picks in 2006, forming a formidable bond throughout their careers.
Fans showed their support by wearing Mangold”s jerseys, while the Jets distributed white T-shirts featuring a drawing of Mangold wearing sunglasses and a backward cap. Tight end Jeremy Ruckert, an alumnus of Ohio State, Mangold”s college, arrived at the stadium in a red Buckeyes jersey displaying Mangold”s college number 55.
Throughout his illustrious career, Mangold was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times and played a crucial role in leading the Jets to the AFC championship games in 2009 and 2010. After retiring in 2018, he was inducted into the Jets” ring of honor in 2022 and was recently among the 52 modern-era players advancing in the voting for the upcoming Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
