The New York Jets paid tribute to the late Nick Mangold with a heartfelt ceremony prior to their Week 10 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Before the game on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, Mangold”s family, including his wife Jennifer and their four children, donned green and white jerseys featuring the number 74 as they participated in the pregame coin toss.
Mangold, a two-time All-Pro center and seven-time NFL Pro Bowler, passed away on October 27 due to complications from kidney disease, having only recently revealed his condition on social media.
His funeral was attended by several former teammates, emphasizing the impact he had during his 11 seasons with the Jets, where he helped the team reach the AFC Championship game twice.
Before the national anthem, the Jets unveiled a large banner honoring Mangold”s number 74 on the field, while a large image of him was displayed in the stands. A video tribute highlighted his contributions to the team, and former teammate D”Brickashaw Ferguson shared a few words about his close friend.
Fans showed their support by wearing Mangold”s jersey and receiving white T-shirts featuring an illustration of him with his signature backward cap and sunglasses. Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert, a fellow Ohio State alumnus, arrived in a red Buckeyes jersey representing Mangold”s college number.
Mangold was instrumental in bringing the Jets to the brink of a Super Bowl during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He retired in 2018 and was posthumously inducted into the Jets” Ring of Honor in 2022. Additionally, he is among the modern-era players vying for a spot in the upcoming Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
