The New York Jets’ first home game since the passing of longtime center Nick Mangold was filled with remembrance and respect. Mangold, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the best players to ever wear the green and white, died on Oct. 25 at the age of 41 due to complications from chronic kidney disease.
Before the Jets took on the Cleveland Browns in Week 10 on Sunday, the team and its fans remembered one of the most important figures in franchise history.
Jeremy Ruckert Pays Tribute to Nick Mangold
Before the game, tight end Jeremy Ruckert showed his respect to Nick Mangold. As he arrived at MetLife Stadium, Ruckert was wearing Mangold’s Ohio State jersey, a recognition of the shared path between the two. Both men played college football at Ohio State before becoming members of the New York Jets, linking them across generations of both Buckeye and Jets football.
Former Ohio State and current Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert showed up to today’s game wearing a Nick Mangold jersey ❤️
Great gesture for a man whose memory will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/AhBJxOmIoS
— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) November 9, 2025
Ruckert’s gesture was one of several tributes the Jets planned throughout the day. The team revealed special pregame shirts that had Mangold’s face and his trademark beard, a look that became familiar to fans during his playing days and his 2022 induction into the Jets’ Ring of Honor.
Players also wore helmet decals with Mangold’s number, 74, so that his memory would take the field with them. Quarterback Justin Fields was also seen wearing the pregame shirt during warmups.
As Jets owner Woody Johnson said, “Nick Mangold will forever be a Jet,” and the tributes showed just that.
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who was drafted alongside Mangold in 2006, shared memories of their years together after his death in October.
“A big part of our lives were spent on that field,” Ferguson said. “I do appreciate having had the opportunity to do life with him, and not only him but his family, everyone else on that stage. … It’s a hard time.”
Mangold’s career with the Jets began in 2006 when the team selected him in the first round of the NFL draft. He became one of the league’s top centers, known for his reliability and strength. Over his 11-year career, he started 164 games, including seven playoff appearances and was selected to seven Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. He helped the Jets’ offense line lead the team to several playoff runs, including back-to-back AFC Championship Games.
Mangold had shared his kidney disease diagnosis earlier in October, writing about the challenges he faced and expressing gratitude for the support he received from his family and the Jets community.