Retired NFL Star Nick Mangold's Cause of Death Revealed

Retired New York Jets center Nick Mangold passed away at the age of 41 after suffering from the complications of kidney disease Saturday night, the team announced on Sunday morning. Mangold was battling chronic kidney disease for nearly 19 years and was also undergoing dialysis for it. Just 10 days back, the former Ohio State Buckeyes center posted on social media asking for a kidney donor with type O blood.Mangold was diagnosed with a genetic defect that led to chronic kidney disease. He underwent dialysis, but after a difficult summer, he began looking for a kidney transplant. He knew the day was coming, but he always thought he had more time. Since no family members were able to donate, he reached out to the public on social media. The Jets legend’s social media post asking for a kidney donor read—“In 2006, I was diagnosed with a genetic defect that has led to chronic kidney disease. After a rough summer, I’m undergoing dialysis as we look for a kidney transplant. I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time. Unfortunately, I do not have any family able to donate at this time, so this is why I’m reaching out to you, our NY Jets and Ohio State communities. I am in need of a kidney donor with type O blood.” Mangold had also shared the website details to find out if the donor was a match for him. He later expressed gratitude to anyone willing to consider donating to him. “I am deeply grateful to anyone that would consider donating,” the Jets center wrote.“Most of all, I’m thankful for my family, who have been my rock every step of the way. This situation has reminded me how lucky I am to have such an amazing family, friends, and community behind me,” Mangold expressed gratitude in his October 14 social media post.The Jets star was looking forward to getting back to full strength—“While this has been a tough stretch, I’m staying positive and focused on the path ahead. I’m looking forward to better days and getting back to full strength soon. I’ll see you all at MetLife Stadium & The Shoe very soon.”On October 14, Nick Mangold told Steve Serby of the New York Post, "Over the summer, I had lost about 35 pounds over two months, and my red blood cell count dropped to half of what is supposed to be normal. I was very fatigued and having dizzy spells and nausea and everything and so I went to the doctor." The doctor said, "We need to go on dialysis and we need to start the process to find a new kidney." "Getting told to go to the hospital immediately was not a great phone call to get. I don't particularly like surgery, so that's always scary. You put the trust in doctors' hands," Mangold recalled.Mangold spent five days in late August at Morristown Medical Center. He underwent dialysis thereafter. Mangold shared back then, "We did three rounds of dialysis to get me started before switching to an outpatient dialysis center. I'm better than I was in August. I'm back to being a functioning human, which is great. Doing dialysis three times a week, it's a taxing experience. I think I'm taking that next step with this process. The diet is very different, your lifestyle's different having to go through dialysis three times a week, that's a job kind of in itself. Attacking this process with the same mentality that I had throughout my career." “Nick was more than a legendary center. He was the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness defined an era of Jets football. Off the field, Nick’s wit, warmth, and unwavering loyalty made him a cherished member of our extended Jets family,” Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a statement.Jets' former offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson told NYJets.com Contributor, Randy Lange, "A big part of our lives were spent on that field. Then very early on, I was at his wedding, there were so many times where we shared life together, family events. I do appreciate having had that opportunity to do life with him, and not only him but his family, everyone else on that stage...it's a hard time."Shaun O'Hara told Dan Salomone of Giants.com in a phone interview, "I'm in shock like everybody else that this accelerated that quickly. I certainly thought he had more time to find a donor. I know he's got young kids, and that's what makes this even harder. I spent a lot of time yesterday just reflecting on, man, how does somebody this young lose it all and that quickly? It's devastating. I just saw him, and it was a really tough day to digest all that and process all of it."Nick Mangold's funeral service was held at St. Vincent Martyr in Madison, New Jersey on November 4. Former New York Jets guard Alan Faneca delivered a eulogy wearing a backward hat just like Mangold. "To help me today, I'm gonna use a little inspiration from Nick," Faneca turned the hat around before putting it on. A gesture that received laughs throughout the church. "I think he'd approve." Faneca continued, "Nick had this special ability to make everyone feel seen, valued, and cared for. He had a gift for turning ordinary moments into memories, through his humor, kindness, and his genuine heart." Also Read: “I Should Have Known,” says Michael Strahan’s cancer warrior daughter, Isabella Strahan