C.J. Mosley is strolling away from the NFL.
The five-time Professional Bowl linebacker, who spent the previous six seasons with the Jets, introduced his retirement Thursday, on his thirty third birthday.
“As soon as upon a time, a child from Cell, Ala., had a dream to do nice issues on the soccer subject,” Mosley mentioned in a video he posted to his Instagram account. “At present, it’s time to get up from my childhood dream and share it with the following era. I spent my entire life and profession constructing my legacy. Now, it’s time to start out a brand new chapter with new desires. It received’t be simple, however I’m right here to let you know each sacrifice is value it.
“Once you get up, what’s going to your legacy appear like?”
The Jets launched Mosley in March after an injury-filled 2024 season. Mosley performed simply 4 video games final 12 months attributable to a toe harm and a herniated disc in his neck.
He shall be remembered across the Jets for not simply his play but in addition his management. He was the quarterback of the protection, liable for making the calls and changes.
He additionally mentored younger gamers, serving to the event of present starters Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood.
Mosley by no means achieved his aim of creating the Jets a winner, however he can have a long-lasting influence on the locker room.
He signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Jets in 2019. Former coach Adam Gase hoped Mosley might change the tradition across the group.
Mosley had one of the crucial dominant debuts in franchise historical past. He tallied a pick-six, a fumble restoration and 6 tackles in a Week 1 loss to the Payments, however he suffered a core muscle harm within the second half of the sport and performed just one extra sport that season.
He opted out of the 2020 season attributable to COVID-19 issues.
Mosley returned in 2021 underneath new coach Robert Saleh and misplaced weight to higher match into Saleh’s scheme. Mosley grew to become the chief of the protection and was named the group MVP that 12 months.
He was even higher in 2022, and was second-team All-Professional and made the Professional Bowl.
Mosley performed in all 17 video games in 2022 and 2023, however final 12 months suffered a toe harm in a Week 2 win over the Titans. Mosley then felt ache in his neck throughout warmups earlier than a sport in opposition to the Patriots in late October.
He tried to come back again from the herniated disc in his neck, however couldn’t.
The brand new Jets’ regime of coach Aaron Glenn and common supervisor Darren Mougey determined to maneuver on from Mosley in March.
The Ravens chosen Mosley within the first spherical of the 2014 draft with the seventeenth pick of Alabama. He made the Professional Bowl as a rookie, the primary of 4 journeys there with Baltimore. He was additionally second-team All-Professional 4 instances as a part of the Ravens’ protection.