7-time Pro Bowler retires, but will sign one last contract
Nearly 12 years after he was selected by the New York Jets with the 29th pick in the 2006 NFL draft, center Nick Mangold announced he is retiring.
During his time in New York, Mangold lived up to his billing and more. A seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time First-Team All-Pro, Mangold played a major role on a team that made consecutive appearances in the AFC Championship Game in 2010 and 2011.
Mangold, 34, was released last offseason after missing eight games due to injury in his final year, and never ended up playing a down of professional football again.
However, in announcing his retirement on Twitter, Mangold said he will sign a one-day contract with the Jets next week.
“I DECLARE RETIREMENNNTTTTTTT!” he tweeted early Tuesday morning. “I will be signing a one day deal with @nyjets next week so I can retire a Jet.”
I DECLARE RETIREMENNNTTTTTTT!
I will be signing a one day deal with @nyjets next week so I can retire a Jet.
Thank you to all!
J! E! T! S! Jets! Jets! Jets! pic.twitter.com/f7j52ZdIy0
— Nick Mangold (@nickmangold) April 17, 2018
According to The Associated Press, the Jets will honor Mangold at a news conference on April 24.
In a statement attached to his Twitter post, Mangold talked about his career as a football player, noting that from the moment he started playing the sport as a young boy, he was “hooked.”
“Everything that happened from pee-wee football to high school football to having the good fortune to play at The Ohio State University molded me for my opportunity to play for the New York Jets,” he said, before thanking Jets owner Woody Johnson, former head coach Eric Mangini and former general manager Mike Tannenbaum, all of whom played a part in drafting him.
“In my 11 years as a Jet, there were plenty of ups and downs but, through it all, I wanted to be the Steady Eddie,” Mangold said. “I wanted to be the guy that other guys looked at to see how it was done. I learned this attribute from the vets that I played with.”
Though Mangold is retiring as a player, he left open the possibility that he could return to the organization in the future, though it’s not clear in what capacity.
“My biggest regret is not bringing the Lombardi Trophy to New York but, as I retire, I will continue my efforts to bring the Trophy home in a different capacity. I have no idea what that capacity is but I’m sure I will figure something out in the future,” he added.
Throughout his career as a player, Mangold was a stalwart on the Jets’ offensive line. He started and played in 164 regular season games, missing just four contests prior to his final season.
Following news of his retirement, the team honored him in a Twitter post of its own.
At 7:40 this morning (😏), @nickmangold called it a career.
Thank you, Nick. #74ever pic.twitter.com/RUwfjtYz5r
— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 17, 2018
Last year, after Mangold’s release, incumbent Jets coach Todd Bowles recognized the impact the longtime center had on the entire organization.
“A great person, a great player. You could always count on Nick’s smarts, consistency and poise,” Bowles said. “Nick’s knowledge of the game and ability to quickly process information made him an invaluable resource to his teammates. He will always mean a lot to everyone in this organization.”
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