Of course, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, played by Anthony Edwards, famously died in the original Top Gun.
This is likely what Joseph Kosinski is talking about when he says Maverick will have to reconcile things from his past.
His character’s death has long been one of those tragic, tearjerker moments fans still talk about to this day.
From what we know about the story, Maverick’s relationship with Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, will form the backbone of the story.