INTRO ABOUT JOSH MAURO THE JOURNEY FOUNDATION CAMPS DONATE PODCAST TRIBUTE
Faith • Brotherhood • Legacy

The Josh Mauro Foundation

A legacy of faith, strength, compassion and purpose

The Josh Mauro Foundation was created to honor Josh’s legacy of faith, strength, compassion, and generosity by helping restore hope to those facing life’s greatest challenges while mentoring and inspiring the next generation through Josh Mauro youth football camps.

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EARLY LIFE
Josh was born on February 17, 1991, in St. Albans, England. From an early age, his life was marked by a sincere faith, along with a quiet strength, determination, and loyalty that would shape every area of his life.
 
Though many came to know Josh through football, those closest to him knew that beyond the toughness and discipline that defined his athletic career was a man marked by kindness, tenderness, compassion, and deep love for his family and friends.
 
Josh was also a standout student-athlete at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, where his work ethic, character, and athletic ability began to distinguish him early in life.

“Beyond the toughness and discipline was a man marked by kindness, compassion, and deep love.”

THE JOURNEY
Josh rose to national prominence as a standout football player at Stanford University, where he became a two-time Pac-12 Champion and Rose Bowl Champion.
 
Known for his work ethic, resilience, and leadership, he earned the respect and admiration of his teammates, coaches, and fans alike.
 
Following his collegiate career, Josh went on to play eight seasons in the NFL, including time with the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and Oakland Raiders, fulfilling a lifelong dream through faith, perseverance, and hard work.

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THE JOURNEY

Faith. Perseverance. Purpose.

Josh Mauro lived with quiet strength, deep faith, and a heart for people. He was deeply loved by his family, his teammates, and cherished by friends whose lives were made better by knowing him. Those who knew Josh best often spoke not only of his athletic ability, but of his kindness, humility, sense of humor, and genuine care for others.

The letter below from Larry Fitzgerald Jr. reflects the kind of man Josh was and the lasting impact he made on the people around him. Through the Josh Mauro Foundation, his legacy continues by bringing hope, investing in the next generation, and encouraging lives marked by faith, character, and purpose.

FAITH & FAMILY
Yet for all his accomplishments on the field, Josh’s greatest victories were found in the relationships he cherished and in the faith he held deeply in his heart.
 
Josh was a believer in Jesus Christ and recently reaffirmed his faith through baptism at Phoenix North Baptist Church.
 
Joshua “Josh” Mauro, beloved son, grandson, brother, uncle, teammate, and friend, breathed his last breath on earth and his first breath in heaven on April 23, 2026, at the age of 35
 
He is survived by his beloved grandmother, Barbara Quigley; his father, Greg Mauro; his stepmother, Jeri Mauro; his mother, Joy Christian; and his beloved siblings, Darrick (Brittany), Christina (Nick), Nathan (Millie), Joseph (Jessica), James (Mehrnoosh), Jon, and Ben (Katelyn), along with numerous loving aunts and uncles and 13 precious nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

— John 11:25

Though our hearts grieve his passing, we do not grieve without hope. Josh placed his trust in Jesus Christ, and his family rests in the promise of eternal life and the assurance that they will see him again.

In honor of Josh’s life and legacy, the family is announcing the launch of the Josh Mauro Foundation.

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WHAT THE FOUNDATION STANDS FOR

Restoring Lives. Inspiring Hope.

The Josh Mauro Foundation was established to honor his life and continue his legacy by helping others discover hope, purpose, opportunity, and the strength to pursue their own God-given dreams.

In partnership with the Dream Center, the Foundation supports efforts to rescue and restore lives affected by addiction, homelessness, poverty, and human trafficking.

The Dream Center is a faith-based nonprofit organization in Los Angeles founded by Pastors Matthew and Caroline Barnett and dedicated to transforming lives and serving those in need.

Through housing, food distribution, education, job training, recovery programs, and community outreach, the Dream Center meets both practical and spiritual needs — restoring hope, rebuilding futures, and empowering people to live healthy, purpose-filled lives.
INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION

Building Future Leaders.

The Josh Mauro Foundation will also sponsor annual Josh Mauro youth football camps in Dallas and Phoenix designed to mentor, encourage, and inspire the next generation through Josh’s example of faith, perseverance, leadership, character, discipline, and opportunity.

These camps will be offered at no cost to participating youth and will focus not only on developing football skills, but also on building character, leadership, discipline, faith, teamwork, and perseverance both on and off the field.

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The Heart Behind the Helmet: A Conversation with Josh Mauro

This powerful conversation between Josh Mauro and his stepbrother Darrick on the A Football Journey Podcast offers a deeply personal look into the heart, character, and faith that shaped Josh’s life on and off the football field.

In this candid interview, Josh reflects on his journey from being an overlooked high school player to competing at the highest levels of college football at Stanford University and the NFL, where he went on to play for the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, New York Giants, and Jacksonville Jaguars. But more importantly, he opens up about the values that guided his life: faith in God, family, humility, perseverance, accountability, teamwork, and the daily discipline of hard work.

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Josh Mauro: A Legacy of Faith, Family, Friends & Football

This tribute honors the life and legacy of Josh Mauro — a man who loved his faith, loved his family, loved his friends, and loved football.

Through family memories, treasured photographs, and moments from his journey on and off the field, this slideshow celebrates the heart of who Josh truly was: a gentle giant marked by quiet strength, deep loyalty, humility, perseverance, and a sincere faith in Jesus Christ.

From his early years in Texas to his standout career at Stanford University and eight seasons in the NFL, Josh impacted countless lives as a son, brother, teammate, uncle, and friend. But beyond the accomplishments and football career, those who knew him best will remember the way he loved people — wholeheartedly and faithfully.

This video is shared in loving memory of Josh and in celebration of a life that continues to inspire faith, character, brotherhood, and hope.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

— Matthew 25:23

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