(Photo via si.com)

When former New York Jets center Nick Mangold announced his retirement from the NFL last week, he did so in a letter that he posted on Twitter. In that letter, he shared a moment that so many young football players can relate to.

I DECLARE RETIREMENNNTTTTTTT!

I will be signing a one day deal with @nyjets next week so I can retire a Jet.

Thank you to all!

J! E! T! S! Jets! Jets! Jets! pic.twitter.com/f7j52ZdIy0

— Nick Mangold (@nickmangold) April 17, 2018

“I remember the night before my first pee-wee practice like it happened yesterday,” said Mangold in his letter. “The unknown, the excitement, and the small ball of nervous energy that sits in your stomach were present that night.”

I can tell you that my son Bradley had those same feelings the night before his first pee-wee practice in 2011, and my younger son Jared had similar feelings before his first flag football practice last year. But with respect to what Mangold wrote, they are words from the heart and words that each and every youth football player should take note of.

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Mangold means a lot to Bradley and has been a big inspiration to him, so the fact that the 29th pick in the 2006 draft has called it a career has brought about some emotional feelings in our house. You see, Bradley had what you might call a Mangold moment just before the start of his fourth pee-wee season in 2014.

Bradley went to training camp that season with one goal in mind, and that was to be the team’s starting center. He wanted to play center because his cousin Stephen played the same position through high school and it was a position that intrigued him. Bradley worked hard at it during camp, and the coach rewarded him with the opportunity to be the starting center. 

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Bradley was extremely excited, but there was still one more step in the process before the start of the season. He had to pick up his game jersey after practice one night and was a nervous wreck. While his cousin was his first inspiration to play center, Bradley’s favorite player was Mangold for obvious reasons, and he wanted desperately to get Mangold’s No. 74.

That season, jerseys were ordered with numbers already on them, so it was really potluck to see what numbers were available and what sizes they were. After practice that night, Bradley’s coach pulled out the box of jerseys for the team and as he opened the box, there was a scream that Mangold might have heard at his home in New Jersey.

“There’s a 74!” Bradley yelled.

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Bradley Schwartz proudly wears No. 74. (Photo via Peter Schwartz)

The jersey on top the pile in the box was No. 74 and it was Bradley’s size.  You can’t make this stuff up! The following year, there was a mixup when the jerseys were ordered and Bradley had to wear 73 (it was a bit of an issue, but we got through it) but he has worn 74 every year since.  

Mangold’s play on the field and his leadership over the years has been a huge inspiration to Bradley. He was a class act for the Jets and a great role model for all youth football players. Bradley takes playing the position of center very seriously and is getting ready to make the move to middle school football this fall.  

Just like Mangold, Bradley’s football career began on a pee-wee football field. Like every other kid who steps onto the gridiron, the future is unwritten allowing for dreams and aspirations. If you ask Bradley what his dreams are, he’ll tell you it’s to play in high school. That’s pretty level-headed for a 12-year-old, but the chances of any child making it to the pros are astronomical.

Congratulations to Nick Mangold on a great career, and thanks for being a great role model for Bradley. Here’s hoping the middle school team has No. 74 available in September because Bradley would like nothing more than to continue honoring you by wearing the number!

Peter Schwartz is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network, FOX News Headlines 24/7 and WCBS 880 Radio in New York. His older son Bradley plays youth tackle football for the Super Bowl Champion East Meadow Rams on Long Island while his younger son Jared plays flag football for the LSW Giants. Peter, his wife Sheryl and the boys are busy cheering on the New York Jets when they’re not at a youth football field.