Five-time Pro Bowl LB C.J. Mosley announces retirement after spending 11 years in the NFL

C.J. Mosley hangs up his cleats after a stellar decade-long NFL career. The longtime Baltimore Ravens linebacker officially announced his retirement Thursday via Instagram, closing the book on a run that saw him become one of the league's premier defensive leaders.

Now 33, Mosley wasted no time making his mark after being taken 17th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by Baltimore. He earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and finished runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year — a sign of the dominance to come.

Over five standout seasons with the Ravens, Mosley racked up four Pro Bowl selections and four Second-Team All-Pro honors, establishing himself as a linchpin in one of the NFL's most respected defenses.

Following the 2018 season, he hit free agency and inked a then-record five-year, $85 million contract with the New York Jets — the richest deal ever handed to an inside linebacker at the time.

But his early days in New York were rocky. Limited to just two games in 2019 due to injuries, Mosley then opted out of the entire 2020 campaign amid COVID-19 concerns. Still, he bounced back in a big way. From 2021 to 2023, Mosley was a tackling machine, averaging a jaw-dropping 159 total tackles per season and earning a fifth Pro Bowl berth in 2022.

However, injuries resurfaced in 2024, with toe and neck issues holding him to just four appearances. The Jets released him in March, but he continued to serve as a mentor to younger players in the locker room.

Before making his mark in the NFL, C.J. Mosley was a standout force at Alabama, where he shared SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors with Michael Sam in 2013, captured the prestigious Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker, and took home Crimson Tide MVP honors in 2012 — a testament to his impact on one of college football's powerhouses.

Now walking away from the gridiron, Mosley leaves behind a legacy loaded with production: 1,083 total tackles, 40 quarterback hits, 12 sacks, 12 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, and a pair of touchdowns on the defensive end.

Here's some of the quick reaction from the NFL world on the news:

A tackling machine with a nose for the ball, Mosley's career numbers speak to both his consistency and game-changing presence at the heart of the defense. From Tuscaloosa to Baltimore and ultimately New York, Mosley leaves behind a legacy of leadership.