Former Jets Coach Rex Ryan Breaks Down in Tears Remembering Nick Mangold with Emotional Tribute: ‘It’s Brutal’

Rex Ryan is remembering Nick Mangold.

The former New York Jets head coach, 62, paid tribute to Mangold on Sunday, Oct. 26, hours after the athlete’s death was announced by the NFL team.

“It’s brutal,” Ryan said while holding back tears during an appearance on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. “[He was] such a great young man. I had the pleasure of coaching him for all six years with the Jets.”

Recalling when his time with the New York-based football team was coming to an end, Ryan remembered that, despite an injury, Mangold persevered in honor of his coach. “He wanted to play for me,” Ryan said. “That’s what I remember about this kid. He was awesome, and just way too young.”

“I feel so bad for his wife and family,” he continued, breaking down, as one of his colleagues comforted him on-air.

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The retired NFL star’s former team announced the news of his death in a news release on Oct. 26, revealing Mangold died a day prior due to complications of kidney disease. He was 41.

Mangold’s death announcement came just 10 days after he reached out to his fan base, asking for a kidney donor while undergoing dialysis.

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The Ohio native was the 29th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft out of the state. He played 171 games for the Jets and made seven Pro Bowl appearances before retiring after the 2016 season. In 2022, he was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor.

Last week, Mangold was announced as being among 52 Modern-Era players currently being considered for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ryan, meanwhile, was the Jets’ head coach from 2009 to 2014. He then served in the same role for the Buffalo Bills from 2015 to 2016. Ryan also held an array of coaching positions with various other NFL and college football teams.