Former NFL coach Rex Ryan became visibly emotional during an ESPN segment on Sunday when he learned of the death of New York Jets player Nick Mangold.
Mangold, 41, died Saturday of complications related to kidney disease, his former team confirmed this weekend.
Ryan appeared on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” and choked up as he reminisced about Mangold, whom he coached for six seasons.
“It’s cruel. Such a wonderful young man,” he said through tears. “I remember it was clear that I was being fired. For example, in my last game Mangold was injured.” injuredand he comes to me. He says, ‘I’m playing this game.’ And he wanted to play for me. That’s what I remember about this boy.”
He further noted, “He was wonderful, and just way too young. I feel so sorry for his wife and family.”
An Ohio native, Mangold spent 11 seasons with the New York Jets before retiring from the NFL in 2018. is survived by his wife, Jennifer Richmond, and their children Matthew, Eloise, Thomas and Charlotte.
His death comes in less than two weeks after he went public with the diagnosis of his kidney disease, and expressed the hope of finding a donor with O-type blood.
“After a rough summer, I’m on dialysis as we look for a kidney transplant,” Mangold wrote on Instagram October 14. “I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time.”
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“Although this has been a tough journey, I remain positive and focused on the road ahead,” he continued. “I look forward to better days and back to full strength soon.”
Also honoring Mangold on ESPN this week was former teammate Damien Woody.
“I lost a brother, and everyone knows that when you spend that much time together in that facility, you’re family,” said Woody, who played with the New York Jets from 2008 to 2010 after stints with the New England Patriots and the Detroit Lions. said Monday. “Nick was a guy who always kept things lighthearted. He was always a guy who always kept things fun. He was the best lineman I ever played with.”
Watch a clip from ‘Good Morning America’ with Rex Ryan’s comments below.
