Defensive end Josh Mauro, who played six of eight NFL seasons, has died at age 35.

His family shared a grief-filled message anchored in faith, describing Mauro as a son, brother, uncle, grandson, and friend who is now healed and asked for prayers.

Mauro played college football at Stanford, went undrafted in 2014, and earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention in his senior year.

Over his NFL career, Mauro appeared in five rookie games with the Cardinals and became a regular part of their defensive line rotation for the following seasons.

His career included two suspensions for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy, one with the Giants in 2018 and another in 2020 with the Cardinals, before retiring after the 2021 season.

Mauro spent one season with the New York Giants in 2018, starting four of 12 games, recording 28 tackles and a sack, and faced a four-game PED suspension that year.

Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 290 pounds, Mauro arrived undrafted from Stanford in 2014 and carved out a defensive-role niche in the NFL.

Raiders teammate Maxx Crosby shared an emotional tribute video mourning Mauro, recalling their early friendship and Mauro’s mentorship.

tributes from fans, former teammates, and NFL figures highlighted Mauro’s on-field tenacity, leadership, faith, and reliability.

Former Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson and Stanford connections praised Mauro’s work ethic, fitness, and dependability.

Cardinals journalist Darren Urban remembered Mauro as an excellent depth player who prioritized team success over personal glory, emphasizing football’s broader impact.

Mauro’s death follows the passing of former Cardinals teammate Chris Payton-Jones in April 2026, underscoring a period of losses for the team.