Mark Sanchez Ends IG Hiatus Amid Stabbing Scandal To Mourn 'More Than A Teammate' Nick Mangold

Over the weekend, football star Nick Mangold passed away, leaving friends and family mourning, including Mark Sanchez, who is in the middle of personal turmoil. 

Earlier this month, Sanchez was hospitalized after being stabbed during an altercation with an elderly truck driver. On October 4, the former NFL quarterback was arrested and charged with multiple misdemeanors, and has since stayed silent on social media.

However, Sanchez, whose first hearing is set for November 4, has returned to Instagram, only to honor his late friend. 

Sanchez paid tribute to his late former New York Jets teammate, Mangold, in an emotional Instagram post reflecting on their close friendship and years together on and off the field. 

He shared a nine-slide carousel, opening with a photo of Mangold dressed in an all white ensemble at what appeared to be a party. Other photos featured the duo at Jets games and on their joint Sports Illustrated cover.

In the caption, Sanchez wrote, “We lost a good man today. I know @realnickmangold will be a hall-of-famer, but there’s more to his story than his accomplishments on the gridiron.”

He went on to describe Mangold as “more than a teammate,” calling him his “big brother, role model, friend, and confidant.”

Sanchez’s tribute comes hours after the Jets announced that Mangold died on Saturday night from complications of kidney disease. 

Two weeks earlier, Mangold had revealed on social media that he was battling the illness and needed a kidney transplant. With no relatives able to donate, he made a public plea for a type O blood donor. 

He also shared that he was undergoing dialysis, managing the chronic condition stemming from a genetic defect diagnosed in 2006. In his post, as reported by AP News, the two-time All-Pro wrote, “I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time.” 

He admitted the situation was difficult but remained hopeful, expressing optimism about returning to MetLife Stadium and The Shoe soon. Sadly, Mangold passed away just weeks later, with his death announced an hour before the Jets’ 39-38 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, their first win of the season.

Alongside Sanchez, several others have paid tribute to Mangold. Jets owner Woody Johnson remembered the late athlete in a heartfelt statement, calling him “the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade.”

Former teammate David Nelson said he was “absolutely gutted” by the loss, describing Mangold as “one of the best guys I’ve ever met, a true legend on and off the field.”

ESPN analyst and former Jets coach Rex Ryan also grew emotional on “Sunday NFL Countdown,” calling the death “brutal” as he tearfully reflected on his years coaching Mangold.

While Sanchez grieves the loss, he is facing serious legal trouble as he was charged with level five felony battery, causing “serious bodily injury” after his altercation with an elderly driver in Indianapolis. 

The charge, which carries up to six years in prison, was added to earlier counts of battery with injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a vehicle due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, per The Blast.

According to a police affidavit, a 69-year-old driver identified as “PT” said Sanchez, appearing intoxicated, tried to enter his truck while he collected used cooking oil outside a hotel. 

The confrontation escalated when PT, fearing for his life, pepper-sprayed and stabbed Sanchez “two or three times,” claiming Sanchez had slammed him against a dumpster. Both men were hospitalized, and in a lawsuit the victim filed against Sanchez, he claimed his injuries had disfigured him. 

Following the news of Sanchez’s legal crisis, his former partner Bobby T, aired her thoughts over the incident, describing the situation as sad but not surprising.

As The Blast reported, Bobby T shared that her main concern is protecting their 8-year-old son, Daniel, explaining that she has stayed quiet publicly to shield him from the chaos surrounding his father. 

She also voiced sympathy for the alleged victim in the incident, urging compassion while asking for privacy for her child.