Ohio State football is dealing with a week that puts everything else in perspective. Head coach Ryan Day opened his press conference on Tuesday by paying tribute to two former Buckeyes who passed away within days of each other. Nick Mangold and Bob Maggs, both centers who left lasting legacies in Columbus. 

Day announced that the program will hold a moment of silence for both players before Saturday’s massive showdown with Penn State, giving the Ohio State community a chance to honor two guys who embodied what it means to be a Buckeye. “Both had major impacts on the Ohio State program,” Day said, his voice carrying the weight of a program in mourning.​

Nick Mangold’s death hit particularly hard because of how sudden it all was. The 41-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler died on Saturday night, October 25, from complications of kidney disease. Just 11 days ago, he publicly announced he needed a kidney transplant and asked the Jets and Ohio State communities for help finding a type O donor. Ryan Day spoke about Mangold with genuine reverence during his press conference, saying he had “an unbelievable amount of respect” for him as both a man and a football player.

He also noted that Mangold “had a tremendous amount of character and left that behind at Ohio State.” That character was on full display during Mangold’s playing days from 2002 to 2005, when he started 33 games. He also became the first center in Ohio State history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. He was part of teams that went 43-8 and won four bowl games, earned All-American honors in 2005, and was also inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

Bob Maggs’ death on October 23 at age 61 added another layer of grief to an already devastating week for the Ohio State program.

Maggs was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten center who anchored the Buckeyes’ offensive line in 1985 and 1986. He helped lead Ohio State to a 9-3 record, followed by a 10-3 season. His connection to the current program runs deeper than just his playing legacy. His son, Mason Maggs, is a walk-on quarterback for the Buckeyes right now. It makes this loss especially painful for everyone in the program who knows what Mason and his family are going through.​

The timing of these losses, coming just days before Ohio State faces Penn State in what’s shaping up to be a massive Big Ten showdown between the No. 1 Buckeyes and Nittany Lions squad. Day’s decision to honor both Mangold and Maggs gives them a chance to remember what really matters.

Bengals honor Ohio native before Jets matchup

The Cincinnati Bengals made sure to pay their respects to Nick Mangold before Sunday’s Week 8 home game against the Jets. They held a moment of silence for the Ohio native in the press box at Paycor Stadium. The tribute came just hours after news broke Sunday morning that Mangold had passed away Saturday night from complications of kidney disease at just 41 years old. 

Jets chairman Woody Johnson captured what Mangold meant to the organization in a statement that hit all the right notes. “Nick was more than a legendary center,” Johnson said. “He was the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness defined an era of Jets football. Off the field, Nick’s wit, warmth, and unwavering loyalty made him a cherished member of our extended Jets family.” 

That pretty much sums up the seven-time Pro Bowler who spent all 11 of his NFL seasons anchoring the Jets’ offensive line after being selected as a first-round pick in 2006. Mangold retired in 2016, leaving behind a legacy that earned him induction into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2022.