Nick Mangold passed away Saturday at 41 , less than two weeks after the former Jets center went public with the fact he needed a kidney transplant .

That same day, Oct. 14, Mangold spoke with The Post’s Steve Serby , in what’s believed to be his final interview.

“I assumed I’d be like 60 or so before it came up,” Mangold said that day. “But it’s reared its ugly head now, sooner than I thought it would.” 3

Mangold learned he had chronic kidney disease in 2006, but only let those closest to him aware of his condition until this month.

“I don’t think anybody knew about it other than the doctors and my family,’’ Mangold said. “I didn’t want any cloud hanging over anything that I did.”

But that changed when his health worsened recently, which led Mangold to have to get dialysis

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