Josh Mauro, a former NFL defensive lineman, died at the age of 35. The Arizona Cardinals, one of the teams Mauro played for, announced his death in a statement on April 28, 2026, prompting questions about the cause of his passing.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Josh Mauro,” the Cardinals wrote in a public statement via X. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him. We extend our deepest condolences to everyone grieving this loss.”
Below, learn what we know so far about Mauro’s cause of death.
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 28, 2026
During his NFL career, Mauro played for several teams, notably the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent the majority of his time. He played six seasons with Arizona and had his most productive year in 2016 by appearing in 15 games and starting 13.
Mauro also had stints with the New York Giants in 2018 and the Oakland Raiders (who are now the Las Vegas Raiders) in 2019. Throughout his career, Mauro appeared in about 80 NFL games.
Before entering the league, Mauro played college football at Stanford University, where he became a standout defensive lineman. Despite not being selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, he earned a roster spot.
