Ex-Jets LB C.J. Mosley hoped for heartfelt reunion before injury ended career

Former New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley had plans to keep playing. The five-time All-Pro reportedly hoped for a storybook reunion with the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, looking to return to the team that drafted him and chase one final shot at a championship.

According to CBS Baltimore's Rick Ritter, there was mutual interest in a Mosley return to the Ravens. Unfortunately, the now-former NFL linebacker was unable to receive medical clearance due to a lingering neck injury that sidelined him for most of the 2024 season.

Mosley officially announced his retirement on Thursday, the day of his 33rd birthday, tying a neat but bittersweet bow on what was a fantastic NFL career.

While his career ended quietly, Mosley's impact on the Jets was anything but. He arrived with massive expectations and experienced early setbacks, but over time, he redeemed his Jets legacy and defined the second chapter of his NFL journey in the process.

Thank you C.J. Mosley

Mosley arrived in New York in 2019 as the centerpiece of a defensive overhaul. The Jets handed him a then-record-setting five-year, $85 million contract, making him the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history at the time.

Unfortunately, his Jets tenure began with frustration and setbacks. A groin injury derailed his 2019 debut, as he played just two games, and then he opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.

By 2021, many had written him off as a free-agent bust, wondering if the former Ravens star would ever resemble his old self again. But Mosley returned with a vengeance and transformed the narrative.

He was the heartbeat of the Jets’ defense in 2021, then elevated his game even further over the next two seasons. In 2022, he earned second-team All-Pro honors and made the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career.

He followed that up with arguably the best season of his Jets career in 2023, earning an 82.9 Pro Football Focus grade — the highest of his NFL career — while serving as team captain and leader on and off the field.

Mosley helped elevate teammates like Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood, mentoring both into becoming key cogs in the Jets’ linebacker corps.

Injuries resurfaced in 2024, limiting him to just four games due to neck and toe issues. The Jets made the difficult decision to move on in March, designating Mosley as a post-June 1 release.

But even after his exit, his presence has lingered in the locker room, with both Williams and Sherwood crediting him this offseason for shaping their development as players and leaders.

Mosley hoped to write one final chapter in Baltimore, chasing a Super Bowl ring with the franchise that drafted him. While that last chapter never materialized, Mosley’s legacy in New York has been set in stone.

He's a player who overcame early adversity, changed the perception of his time with the Jets, and left behind a lasting impact on the organization. Thank you for everything, Captain. Happy retirement and happy birthday.

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