Overview
- The Maricopa County medical examiner concluded that former NFL defensive lineman Josh Mauro died from acute combined fentanyl, cocaine and ethanol intoxication and ruled the manner of death accidental.
- Phoenix police found Mauro unresponsive at his Arizona home on April 23, 2026, and emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
- Toxicology showed fentanyl, cocaine, alcohol and their metabolites in Mauro’s system, with additional traces of cannabinoids and caffeine reported in the autopsy files.
- The medical examiner recorded cerebral edema (brain swelling) and an abnormal buildup of fluid in the lungs, findings consistent with a drug-related fatality, and the report notes a history of cocaine and alcohol abuse.
- No foul play is suspected and teammates and family have issued condolences, while the case underscores public-health concerns about lethal fentanyl exposure and the high risk of mixing stimulants, opioids and alcohol.