Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold needs help from a fan or some other good Samaritan.
The 41-year-old posted a statement on social media Tuesday revealing that he was diagnosed in 2006 with a genetic defect that led to a chronic kidney disease, leaving him in need of a kidney donation. He said a “rough summer” has left him on dialysis and that none of his family are able to donate.
The statement directs fans with type O blood to a webpage from Columbia’s surgery department and signal their interest, specifically citing his name and Jan. 13, 1984 birthdate.
Mangold played his entire 11-year career with the Jets, earning seven Pro Bowl nods and a spot on the team’s ring of honor. Before that, he was an All-American at Ohio State and a freshman on the program’s 2002 national championship team. He remains a popular figure for both fanbases, and last played in the NFL in 2016.
The full statement, addressed to both the Jets and Ohio State communities: