Ohio State, Jets teammate remembers Nick Mangold: 'Buckeye brotherhood took a huge loss'

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Buckeye Nation is mourning the loss of one of its own as former Ohio State and New York Jets center Nick Mangold has died at the age of 41 after complications from kidney disease.

"Finding this news out in real time is just super shocking, super sad," former teammate Jay Richardson said. "And we're all really just feeling for Nick and his family."

For those who wore the scarlet and gray alongside him like Richardson, Mangold was more than just a dominant lineman -- he was family. 

"The Buckeye brotherhood took a huge loss today," Richardson said.

Richardson and Mangold first met as teenagers. They were high school football all-stars turned Buckeyes in the 2002 recruiting class. That same season, Mangold helped Ohio State win a national title. 

"He got some reps on that '02 championship team as a freshman when so many of us were redshirting because it was such a talented team," Richardson said. "Guys like Nick and Rob Sims and A.J. Hawk, they were good enough to play right away."

Richardson and Mangold's football journey came full circle in 2012 when they reunited on the New York Jets. 

"To watch his career go from being almost an undersized center to just being a Pro Bowl level, ultra elite NFL player, was really, really cool to see as a former teammate," Richardson said. 

From Columbus to New York, tributes have been pouring in on social media. 

"It just speaks to his impact that he had, and the platform that you're given when you're a Buckeye or when you're an NFL player," Richardson said. "You're definitely thrust in that spotlight, and I thought he handled it well and was always a fantastic teammate and a great person."

For Richardson, the news doesn't feel real. He said teammates have been flooding their Buckeye group chat, sharing stories, old memories and disbelief. 

"Anybody that has played with him, that has known him, that has been his teammate or his friend, will tell you, dude was a special guy," Richardson said. "Funny guy. Very, very quick-witted. Always had a one-liner and just somebody that cared deeply for his loved ones."

Mangold leaves behind his wife and four children.

"All of Buckeye Nation is right there with his family," Richardson said. "All of his former teammates, all of his former friends, anyone he's come in contact with, everybody's feeling it and we're all just pulling for his family and hoping that they feel that love."

Mangold's death comes less than two weeks after he announced on social media he had kidney disease and needed a transplant. Mangold said he didn't have any relatives who were able to donate, so he went public with the request for a donor with type O blood. 

"I don't know if anything prepares you for something like that, especially a guy so young," Richardson said. "It was really, really sad to see."