This weekend, the football world was rocked by the sudden passing of former Ohio State and New York Jets center Nick Mangold. Mangold was dealing with kidney disease and went public with his condition earlier this month, asking for a kidney replacement. Kidney disease was something that Mangold had dealt with over the last 19 years, and he underwent dialysis weekly.
As a former football player, Nick Mangold seemed suitable for the Role, but he still wanted to raise awareness of kidney disease and the benefits of being a kidney donor. Mangold's former Ohio State teammate, All-American linebacker Bobby Carpenter, wrote a big tribute to Mangold on Albert Breer's “Monday Morning QB” notebook. He talked about how much he meant to the football world, but mainly what he meant to his family and friends, and how much they will all miss him.
Carpenter elaborated on what made Nick Mangold special by saying, “He was a hugger. He had an opinion about everything and would engage with anyone who wanted to chat. Any bad day was instantly better when Nick asked you to bring it in for the real thing. Nick's approachability and connectability endeared him to everyone despite his demonstrative stature. It’s why he was such a fan favorite, but more importantly, a connector in the locker room. You always felt better after a conversation with Nick. He was the eternal optimist … and that was the biggest driver of his athletic success.”
Carpenter also said that Mangold was highly personable and that his friendship never waned, no matter how long it had been since they last talked.
“Nick never knew a stranger,” Carpenter continued. “And it’s why his teammates adored him. He embodied everything Billy Joel sang about: ‘He was quick with a joke, or to light up your smoke.' But the place he’d rather be was always with his friends and family. His unrelenting loyalty was his finest trait. No matter the time or distance, it is like hopping on a moving train when you see Nick. Your friendship and connection never waned. It’s why we all loved him.”
Carpenter then emphasized the meaning of this loss, saying, “The Jets lost a legend. The Buckeye Nation lost an All-American. But his teammates and friends lost the best of us.”
The Ohio State football program lost a titan, and while they had the week off, the New York Jets honored him with a resilient and emotional win against the Cincinnati Bengals for their first of the season.
