C.J. Mosley is walking away from the NFL.
The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker, who spent the past six seasons with the Jets, announced his retirement Thursday, which is his 33rd birthday.
“Once upon a time, a kid from Mobile, Ala. had a dream to do great things on the football field,” Mosley said in a video he posted to his Instagram account. “Today, it is time to wake up from my childhood dream and share it with the next generation. I spent my whole life and career building my legacy. Now, it’s time to start a new chapter with new dreams. It won’t be easy, but I’m here to tell you every sacrifice is worth it.
“When you wake up, what will your legacy look like?”
The Jets released Mosley in March after an injury-filled 2024 season.
Mosley played just four games last year due to a toe injury and a herniated disc in his neck.
Mosley will be remembered around the Jets for not just his play but also his leadership. He was the quarterback of the defense, responsible for making the calls and adjustments.
He also mentored young players, helping the development of current Jets starters Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood.
Mosley never achieved his goal of making the Jets a winner, but he will have a lasting impact on the locker room.
He signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Jets in 2019. Former coach Adam Gase hoped Mosley could change the culture around the team.
Mosley had one of the most dominant debuts in Jets history. He tallied a pick-six, a fumble recovery and six tackles in a Week 1 loss to the Bills, but he suffered a core muscle injury in the second half of the game and played only one more game that season.
He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Mosley returned in 2021 under new coach Robert Saleh and lost weight to better fit into Saleh’s scheme. Mosley became the leader of the defense and was named the Team MVP that year.
He was even better in 2022 and was second-team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl.
Mosley played in all 17 games in 2022 and 2023, but last year suffered a toe injury in a Week 2 win over the Titans. Mosley then felt pain in his neck during warmups before a game against the Patriots in late October.
He tried to come back from the herniated disc in his neck, but could not.
The new Jets’ regime of coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey decided to move on from Mosley in March.
The Ravens selected Mosley in the first round of the 2014 draft with the 17th overall pick out of Alabama.
He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, the first of four trips there with Baltimore. He was also second-team All-Pro four times as part of the Ravens’ defense.
