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Former NFL DE Josh Mauro Dies at 35

4/29/2026

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Summary

Mauro Dies

Josh Mauro, former NFL defensive end, died at age 35 on April 23.
His father Greg Mauro announced the death in a Facebook post on April 28, asking for prayers.
Mauro entered the NFL as a Stanford agent in 2014, played eight seasons with Arizona Cardinals and also appeared for the Giants, Raiders and Jaguars, recording 130 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and five passes defended in 80 games.

Summary

Mauro Suspended

Mauro was suspended four games in 2018 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
He logged 80 tackles, 12 sacks and five forced fumbles at L.D. Bell High School in Texas.
After going undrafted in 2014, Mauro signed with the Steelers, then joined the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.
He appeared in three postseason games for the Cardinals, starting two in 2015 and recording three tackles.

History

Historical Context

Since the NFL introduced its first banned-substances policy in 1987, the league tightened rules in 2005 after 111 players had tested positive and 54 were suspended. Commissioner Roger Goodell’s four-game first-offense sanction, later applied to Shawne Merriman’s 2006 “Merriman Rule,” also covered Josh Mauro’s 2018 four-game PED suspension, showing the policy’s lasting impact.

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Mauro Dies

Josh Mauro, former NFL defensive end, died at age 35 on April 23.
His father Greg Mauro announced the death in a Facebook post on April 28, asking for prayers.
Mauro entered the NFL as a Stanford agent in 2014, played eight seasons with Arizona Cardinals and also appeared for the Giants, Raiders and Jaguars, recording 130 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and five passes defended in 80 games.

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