Nick Mangold was a big man with a big heart — who often acted like a big kid. He had fun running the spring fundraiser for St. Vincent Martyr School in Madison, N.J., while wearing a tuxedo T-shirt under a jacket and a big top hat.
“Nick made sure everybody had a good time and was patient as people came up and wanted to take pictures with him,” Msgr. George Hundt, former pastor of St. Vincent’s Parish, said of Mangold, who, as a retired center for the Jets, was a local celebrity.
Sadly, Nicholas Allan Mangold died on Oct. 25 of complications from chronic kidney disease. He was 41. On Nov. 4, Mangold was remembered as a larger-than-life man with a giving, humble spirit, who loved above all his faith, family, service, and football — in that order — during a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Vincent’s Church.
Since retiring from the NFL in 2018, Mangold poured his passion into his family: his wife, Jennifer, and their four children. He was an active parent at St. Vincent’s School and a volunteer at St. Vincent’s Parish and in the Madison community, where he lived. Last year, Mangold became the varsity football offensive line coach at Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J.
“Nick understood that the blessings he was given weren’t meant to serve himself [but] to share with his family, friends, and every community,” Msgr. Hundt, now pastor of St. Gerard Majella and Our Lady of Pompei parishes, both in Paterson, said in remarks at the end of the Mass. “That’s why we can be assured today that as Nick steps into heaven, he’s hearing those words we all want to hear one day: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Come into the place that I have prepared for you.’ ”
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Msgr. Hundt joined Father Owen Moran, current pastor of St. Vincent’s; Benedictine Father Michael Tidd, headmaster of Delbarton; and Father Jose Zuniga, St. Vincent’s parochial vicar, in celebrating the Mass. Father Moran delivered the homily.
Still in shock, family, friends, and members of the Jets and Delbarton communities filled St. Vincent’s for the Mass. Some of them participated in the liturgy. That morning, the rest of the Delbarton community at the school remembered Mangold at its annual Bishop’s Mass, celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney.
Demonstrating leadership and grit, Mangold had 11 well-respected seasons with the Jets, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and a spot in the Jets’ Ring of Honor. The Ohio native is now a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. Earlier, Mangold helped the Ohio State Buckeyes clinch a National Championship in 2002.
Far from the NFL, Mangold and his wife spent time raising their four children — Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte — in the Catholic faith and making memories with them. They attended weekly Mass. The children attended Catholic school. Mangold coached some of their sports and cheered them from the sidelines. They also took trips around the world, including to Disney.
Mangold also supported causes such as the Madison PBA and the Special Olympics.
“Forty-one is too young [to die], but when we present our lives to God, at the end of our lives, however old we will be, it’s not a matter of how old we are. What did we do? What difference did we make? How did we love? How did we forgive, if necessary? How did we bring others to God? How did we reflect God’s love by our lives? Nick ticked all those boxes — and more,” Father Moran said. “Today, Nick invites all of us to live our faith well. He put God first, used his gifts, and enjoyed the ride.”
St. Vincent’s School honored Mangold on social media. The community recited the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary in tribute.
“We asked that the same light of Christ that shone during these mysteries also surround Nick and his family. Nick will never be forgotten. His kindness, generosity, and light will remain in our hearts always,” St. Vincent’s posted on social media.
The standing-room-only attendance at Mangold’s funeral “reflected how many people Nick touched and how much he meant to all of us,” said Alan Faneca, a retired NFL guard who played with Mangold on the Jets from 2008-09. He delivered a reflection at the end of Mass.
“It’s the way Nick made people feel. He had this special ability to make everyone feel seen, cared for, and valued. He could take a tough day and make it better with a look, a joke, or a few simple words,” Faneca said.
Delbarton varsity football honored Mangold on Nov. 1 during its first game since his death. On their helmets, players wore #74, his Jets number, and passed out hats with #74 and green ribbons. Mangold made his mark by bringing his extensive NFL experience and mentorship skills to the high school level.
Head Coach Brian Bowers told NJ.com about the difficulty of keeping his players focused in the wake of Mangold’s death.
“Our kids have done a great job really supporting one another. It’s difficult for teenagers to go through any loss, let alone the loss of someone they love so much like Coach Mangold,” Bowers said.
When he arrived at Delbarton, Mangold remained humble despite his NFL successes. He was “like a sponge,” soaking up knowledge and wanting to learn more about high school coaching, said Tony Negrin, Delbarton’s athletic director. Mangold’s son, Matthew, plays freshman football.
“Nick was professional but also passionate and competitive,” Negrin said. “He was the first into work and the last to leave. He was larger than life, but the players treated him like any other coach. Nick wanted to be part of the community.”
