Former NFL defensive end Josh Mauro died in April at the age of 35 from an accidental overdose, with a recently obtained police report shedding light on the circumstances leading up to his death. Mauro, who played for the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Jacksonville Jaguars, had reportedly been on a four-day cocaine binge before his passing.
A Phoenix Police Department case report, first acquired by the California Post, states that Mauro was at his Arizona home on April 23 with several women, including a dancer he had met a week prior. According to the dancer, Mauro and a friend began consuming cocaine while the group drank tequila and listened to music.
She reported that she and the other women went upstairs to sleep, leaving Mauro and his friend downstairs. Upon waking, she discovered Mauro unresponsive on the floor. She attempted to revive him before calling emergency services.
The dancer also claimed that Mauro had mentioned being on a “bender for four days” prior to her arrival. She observed that he experienced frequent nosebleeds and sweating, which she associated with cocaine use.
Investigators found a bottle cap with a white substance, a rolled-up dollar bill with a powdery substance, tissues with apparent blood, and a syringe in a trash can near Mauro's body.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner previously listed the cause of death as an accidental overdose, with toxicology reports revealing traces of fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol in his system, along with cannabinoids and caffeine.
Mauro's father, Greg Mauro, announced his son's death in April, stating that Josh was “healed and made new—living in the presence of the Lord.”
Born in England, Mauro moved to the United States at age three and grew up in Texas. He played college football at Stanford University before entering the NFL. Though initially signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2014, his time with the team was brief. He began his professional career with the Arizona Cardinals, playing multiple stints between 2014 and 2021. During his time with the Cardinals, he was a rotational defensive lineman and occasional starter, recording a career-high 42 tackles in the 2016 season. Mauro also played for the New York Giants in 2018, the Oakland Raiders in 2019, and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020.