Still unsigned deep into the offseason, C.J. Mosley will not continue his career in 2025. The veteran linebacker informed CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Thursday that he is retiring. 
“Today, it is time to wake up from my childhood dream and share it with the next generation,” Mosley said on Instagram while officially announcing his decision (video link). “I spent my whole life and career building my legacy. Now it’s time to start a new chapter with new dreams.”
Mosley was long seen as a cut candidate for the Jets this offseason, and he was indeed let go in March. The 33-year-old (as of today) became a free agent as a result, but no suitors showed interest up to this point. Mosley intended to keep playing this season, but that will no longer be the case.
A first-round pick of the Ravens in 2014, Mosley immediately took on starting duties and established himself as one of the league’s most productive linebackers. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in four of his five Baltimore campaigns before departing on the open market. Mosley landed a five-year, $85MM pact with the Jets, a deal which did not pay early dividends for the team. The Alabama product was limited to two games in 2020 and he was among the players who sat out the following campaign.
Each year from 2021-23, Mosley was able to remain available to his second career team. During that stretch, he continued to record triple-digit tackles (something he managed seven times during his NFL tenure). A herniated disc resulted in considerable missed time this past season, however, and that injury led to new questions about a potential parting of ways. Using a post-June 1 designation, the Jets proceeded with Mosley’s release to get out of the final year of his contract.
New York retained fellow linebacker Jamien Sherwood on a $15MM-per-year deal this spring, and he will be counted on to remain one of the team’s most productive defenders moving forward. With respect to the remaining market at the LB spot, meanwhile, the likes of Eric Kendricks, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Kyzir White are still available to teams looking to make an addition ahead of training camp. Mosley – whose career included five second-team All-Pro nods – will now turn his attention to his post-playing days.
Thanks in large part to his free agent Jets deal (a record-breaking accord for linebackers at the time), Mosley accumulated over $88MM in career earnings. He will depart the NFL with 136 combined regular and postseason games to his name at the pro level following a college tenure which included a pair of national championships.
How long until we see an article saying he wants to unretire and play again?
Considering his injury history, probably a while. Its not like he wasnt a free agent
A really solid career, even with the injuries.
Yes, “solid”. When he moved on from the Ravens I recall the fan base, even with all those pro bowl appearances, NOT being up in arms over it. Yep, solid, nothing spectacular.
Ok
Good for him. Played a long time and got paid too
Looked like a great player in Baltimore. Signed a ridiculous contract it would have been nearly impossible to justify. (Six years later it would still be a nearly top of the market linebacker contract.) Glad he got to bounce back and have a couple of very good years with Saleh. A shame he couldn’t have more healthy seasons on functional teams.