Former Jets star Nick Mangold is in need of a kidney transplant and is asking fans to consider donating, the lineman announced Tuesday.
“This isn’t an easy message to share, but I want to be open about what’s been happening with me and my health,” the 41-year-old center wrote in a statement on social media.
“In 2006, I was diagnosed with a genetic defect that has led to chronic kidney disease,” he said. “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.”
Mangold went on to explain that he doesn’t have any family members who are able to donate at this time, so he’s “reaching out to you, our NY Jets and Ohio State communities,” in hopes of finding a kidney donor with type O blood.
“If you are willing to find out if you could be a match and donate a kidney to me, please go to this site https://columbiasurgery.org/kidney-transplant and click the link to indicate I WANT TO DONATE MY KIDNEY. Use my full name, Nicholas Mangold, and my birthday, 1/13/1984.”
Mangold added that while “this has been a tough stretch,” he’s focused on staying positive and reminding himself how lucky he is to have “such an amazing family, friends and community” behind him.
“I’m looking forward to better days and getting back to full strength soon,” he concluded, promising Jets fans he’d see them at MetLife Stadium “very soon.”
Mangold was drafted by the Jets in the first round out of Ohio State in 2006 and started every game he appeared in over 11 seasons before his retirement. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. He was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2022.
