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Rex Ryan showed up to work with a heavy heart on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The former\u00a0New York Jets<\/a>\u00a0head coach is mourning the death of one of his former players, Nick Mangold, whose passing was announced on the day.<\/p>\n The former Jets center, a fan favorite,\u00a0passed away from kidney disease<\/a>, just 12 days after he publicly requested an organ in a desperate plea to save his life. He was 41.<\/p>\n Ryan, who coached Mangold during his time with the Jets, broke down while discussing his relationship with Mangold during \u2018Sunday\u00a0NFL<\/a>\u00a0Countdown\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s brutal,\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0he said through tears.\u00a0\u201cSuch a great young man. I had the pleasure of coaching him for all six years with the Jets.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n He recalled when an injured Mangold opted to play for him despite being injured, because he knew he was about to lose his job.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was way too young,\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>he added.\u00a0\u201cI feel so bad for his wife and his family.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n