The cause of former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro‘s death has been revealed by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office online records via The Athletic.
Mauro died from a combined overdose of cocaine, fentanyl and ethanol intoxication. Mauro died on April 23, at the age of 35. The cause of death was not immediately reported.
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The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office also says that the death was accidental.
The eight-year veteran NFL defensive lineman last played in the NFL in 2021, which was his last year with Arizona. He played with the Cardinals for six years. His first stint with the organization was from the 2014 through 2017 seasons, and his second stint was from the 2020 through 2021 seasons.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Young kid wave Cardinals flags from the stands as they attend the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game and Community Day at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Young kid wave Cardinals flags from the stands as they attend the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game and Community Day at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. speaks to the media before playing in his 5th annual Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game and Community Day at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) goes for a layup during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (42) weaves through the defense during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Cardinals linebackers Jordan Burch (5) and Mack Wilson Sr. (1) face each other in Wilson Sr.Õs 5th annual celebrity basketball game at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Cardinals linebacker Jordan Burch (5) goes for a layup during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
The crowd cheers for DJ CeCe as he celebrates scoring during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game and Community Day at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Internet personality ÒBdotAdot5Ó (5) shoots during the Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez speaks to the media before playing in the 5th annual Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
The Mack Wilson Sr. (1) passes the ball to DJ CeCe (99) during his Celebrity Basketball Game and Community Day at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez speaks to the media in a classroom before playing in the 5th annual Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
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Sideline views of Mack Wilson Sr.’s Celebrity Basketball Game
Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. speaks to the media before playing in his 5th annual Mack Wilson Sr. Celebrity Basketball Game and Community Day at Corona Del Sol High School on May 16, 2026, in Tempe.
Mauro started 13 of the Cardinals’ 16 games in the 2016 season, and started the Cardinals’ two postseason games in their 2015 campaign when Arizona reached the NFC championship game.
In between his time with the Cardinals, Mauro played one year with the New York Giants. James Bettcher was Mauro’s defensive coordinator in New York, as he was during the 2015-17 seasons in Arizona. After a season in New York, Mauro played for the then-Oakland Raiders for one season before heading back to Arizona.
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Mauro, a Stanford product, went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft but was picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After starting the 2014 season on their practice squad, he got his first action on the field with the Cardinals after Arizona signed him. Mauro totaled 83 tackles for the Cardinals, with 13 coming for a loss.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro’s cause of death uncovered