NFL Legend Nick Mangold Dies at 41 After Kidney Battle The sports world is reeling from the heartbreaking loss of Nick Mangold, the beloved New York Jets legend who passed away at just 41 years old. His death comes only weeks after he made a desperate public plea for a kidney donor as he battled chronic kidney disease. Mangold, one of the most respected centers in NFL history, died from complications related to the disease, the Jets announced on Sunday—just an hour before their matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.