The cause of death for former NFL defensive end Josh Mauro has been officially determined, with authorities ruling it an accidental drug overdose.
According to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner, Mauro died from acute combined fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol intoxication. The manner of death was classified as an accident.
Mauro, who played eight seasons in the NFL, passed away last month at the age of 35. His father, Greg, announced the tragic news in an emotional social media post, writing, “With many tears and broken hearts, yet anchored in the unshakable certainty that our precious Josh Mauro is now healed and made new—living in the presence of the Lord—we humbly covet your prayers as our family walks through the devastating loss of our amazing son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend.”
An undrafted free agent out of Stanford in 2014, Mauro spent the majority of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, also playing for the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Cardinals expressed their grief in a statement, saying they were “heartbroken” and extending “deepest condolences to everyone grieving this loss.”
In 80 career games, Mauro recorded 130 tackles and five sacks.