Rich Cimini
So, guess what? The New York Jets just said goodbye to C.J. Mosley, their former Pro Bowl linebacker! This dude was a huge deal when he signed a crazy contract back in 2019, but now he’s outta here as the team shakes things up this offseason.
The new GM, Darren Mougey, and coach Aaron Glenn are making some bold moves. First, they let go of Mosley, then there’s Aaron Rodgers, and wide receiver Davante Adams too! Just to give you an idea—both Mosley and Rodgers were team captains last season, so this is a big deal.
Glenn had some nice words about Mosley, saying it’s tough to let go of a guy who poured his heart into the Jets. He called him a passionate leader who always had the team’s back. We wish him good luck on his next adventure!
Now, don’t think the Jets are saving a ton of cash here. Mosley’s got a $4.25 million guaranteed salary for 2025, so cutting him doesn’t really help their wallet much. They’ve tagged him as a post-June 1 cut, which means the cap hit ($16.5 million) will stretch out over two years—$8.8 million this year and $7.7 million in 2026. They’ll be sitting with a $12.8 million cap charge until June 1, and then it drops to $8.8 million. Yay, right? That’s a $4 million savings, but still, it’s a bit tricky.
Team owner Woody Johnson praised Mosley for being a top-notch player and leader over the past six years, saying he brought passion and inspired his teammates. Big thanks to C.J. for all the effort and dedication—best of luck moving forward!
Mosley was definitely a key player on defense, but injuries hit him hard last season. He lost his middle linebacker spot to Jamien Sherwood, who just signed a sweet three-year, $45 million extension. Mosley missed about 13 games, dealing with a gnarly toe injury and a freak neck issue that he hurt in a warmup. Yeah, just turning his head led to his season being cut short. Oof!
Now, Mosley had a flashy start in the NFL. After being a Pro Bowler three times with the Baltimore Ravens, he joined the Jets with a massive five-year, $85 million contract—biggest for an off-ball linebacker at that time! Fast forward, and he took a pay cut last offseason to stick around for two more years at $17.3 million.
He really wanted to help flip the Jets’ struggling image, but it didn’t go as planned. His record with the Jets was 30-54, not counting the 2020 season when he opted out because of COVID. On the bright side, he played a crucial role in revamping the Jets’ defense. They went from dead last in 2021 to being a top-four defense for three years straight!
Of course, his journey wasn’t smooth sailing; he had surgery for a torn groin back in 2019. His standout season? That was 2022, when he made his fifth Pro Bowl and snagged a spot on the second team All-Pro list.
Mougey wrapped up by calling C.J. a total pro who’s well-respected around the NFL. That’s a solid way to remember him!
