PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Arizona Cardinals organization is mourning the loss of a former player gone too soon.
The family of Josh Mauro posted on social media that he died Thursday. Police said it happened at a home in the area of 32nd Street and Chandler Boulevard. He was 35.
“We humbly covet your prayers as our family walks through the devastating loss of our amazing son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend,” the family said.
Police said there are no obvious signs of foul play. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner will determine his cause of death.
Former Cardinals great Adrian Wilson sent his condolences and praised Mauro’s time with former Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians.
Prayers go out to Josh Mauro and his family. Had the opportunity to be around Josh for several years with BA. Always in shape, always was ready to go wherever he got that call. One of the things I respected most about him. You could depend on him
— Adrian Wilson (@adrian_wilson24) April 28, 2026
The former defensive end was born in England and went to Stanford before playing eight seasons in the NFL.
He played for the Cardinals from 2014 to 2017, where he had 75 tackles, four passes defended and two sacks.
Mauro was released by the Cardinals in 2018 and played for the New York Giants, where he was suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
He played for the then-Oakland Raiders in 2019 and re-signed with the Cardinals in 2020 for two more seasons.
Former Arizona Cardinal J.J. Watt, who played for Arizona in 2021 and 2022, said Mauro was gone too soon.
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