The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner has determined that former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro died of an accidental overdose, finding a combination of fentanyl, alcohol and cocaine in his system. Mauro, 35, was discovered dead April 23 at his home in the area of 32nd Street and Chandler Boulevard. His family made the news of his passing public several days later through a Facebook post.
Former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro walks on the field in his Cardinals uniform holding his helmet; Mauro was found dead April 23 and his death was later ruled an accidental overdose.
Officials with the medical examiner’s office reported the substances detected in Mauro’s system and classified the death as accidental. Beyond the immediate toxicology findings, officials have not provided additional medical details in the report released by the county office. The location where Mauro was found — his residence near 32nd Street and Chandler Boulevard — was listed in the initial police notifications and subsequently in public reporting surrounding his death.
In the days after the discovery of his body, Mauro’s family used social media to inform friends, teammates and the public of the loss. His father, Greg Mauro, posted that the family had received a letter from former Cardinals teammate Larry Fitzgerald. Greg Mauro’s Facebook post included a note of gratitude to Fitzgerald and to others who offered condolences: "Today we received a letter that deeply touched our family—from Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Josh’s former teammate with the Arizona Cardinals and one of the greatest to ever play the game. Thank you, Larry, and for each one of you for honoring Josh with such heartfelt words. Your tributes means more to our family than you know. ❤️"
Larry Fitzgerald’s letter to the family, which Greg Mauro said was received on Thursday, reflected on Mauro’s character during their time together on the Cardinals. In his message, Fitzgerald wrote: "Josh was someone you could always count on for more than just the game. He had depth to him; he was genuinely curious about people, thoughtful in the way he listened, and generous in the way he engaged. Our conversations are something I’ll carry with me always." The family acknowledged Fitzgerald’s note and expressed appreciation to the many people who reached out with remembrances and condolences.
Josh Mauro wearing an Arizona Cardinals helmet and red jersey during a game; the Maricopa County medical examiner determined he died from an accidental overdose.
Mauro’s football career began well before his time in the NFL. Born in England, he played his college football at Stanford University and went on to an eight-season professional career. He first joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2014 and remained with the team through the 2017 season, during which he registered 75 tackles, defended four passes and recorded two sacks while appearing as a defensive end for the Cardinals.
Following his initial stint with Arizona, Mauro was released by the Cardinals in 2018. He then signed with the New York Giants, where he faced a league suspension and missed the first four games of his Giants tenure for a violation of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Mauro went on to play for the team that was then known as the Oakland Raiders in 2019 before returning to Arizona; he re-signed with the Cardinals in 2020 for an additional two-season contract. Across those eight seasons in the NFL, Mauro moved among teams and rosters while accumulating the on-field statistics noted during his time in Arizona.
The Maricopa County medical examiner’s determination closes the official inquiry into the immediate cause of Mauro’s death by identifying the combination of substances that led to the accidental overdose ruling. Beyond the county’s report and the family’s public posts acknowledging condolences and tributes, there have been no further public disclosures from Mauro’s family or from team representatives about the circumstances leading up to his death. Mauro’s passing has prompted messages from former teammates and members of the football community, including the letter from Fitzgerald that Greg Mauro described as deeply touching to the family.