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Former NFL player Josh Mauro died of a drug overdose, the California Post reported, citing the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.
The Post said Mauro died of “acute combined fentanyl, cocaine and ethanol intoxication.”
Mauro’s death was ruled accidental, the outlet added.
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Josh Mauro of the Oakland Raiders takes the field before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 29, 2019. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Greg Mauro, Josh’s father, announced his son’s death in a Facebook post last month and said he died on April 23.
“With many tears and broken hearts, yet anchored in the unshakable certainty that our precious Josh Mauro is now healed and made new – live in the presence of the Lord – we humbly ask for your prayers as our family walks through the devastating loss of our amazing son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend,” Greg Mauro wrote in the post.
“Thursday April 23rd, Josh took his last breath on this Earth and his first breath in Heaven. The Lord has been our strength in this unimaginable moment. Your prayers for continued strength and comfort mean more to us than words could ever express.”
Quarterback Sam Darnold of the New York Jets greets defensive end Josh Mauro of the Oakland Raiders after the Jets’ 34-3 win at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on November 24, 2019. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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Mauro entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Stanford and signed with Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014. But the Steelers didn’t stick with the 6-foot-6, 290-pound defensive end long, cutting him during the final roster moves before the start of the season.
However, Mauro landed with it Arizona Cardinals, and he would spend the next four seasons in the desert helping their defensive line.
Over six seasons with the Cardinals, Mauro amassed 83 combined tackles and four sacks across 55 games (29 starts). He worked his way into a starting role in 2016, seeing seven tackles for loss across 15 games.
Mauro also spent time with the New York Giants and then-Oakland Raiders before returning to the Cardinals for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Mauro was born in England, where his father was posted for work. He would eventually move from England to Texas and work on a high school resume that allowed him to play Division I football at Stanford.
Josh Mauro of the Arizona Cardinals prepares to play against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January 2, 2022. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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Across 80 career games, Mauro had five sacks, 130 combined tackles (20 for loss), two forced fumbles and five passes defensed.
