FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Former Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley, who signed a record-setting contract with the New York Jets in 2019, was released Wednesday amid the team's continuing offseason purge.
General manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn, both newly hired, already have released three big names: Mosley, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams. Rodgers and Mosley were captains last season.
"It's hard to move on from a player like C.J. Mosley, who has given everything of himself to an organization," Glenn said in a statement. "From everything we learned about C.J., he is a passionate leader who put the New York Jets first and got the most out of his teammates. We wish him and his family the best as he moves forward with his career."
There won't be much cap relief for cutting Mosley, 32, who missed 13 games last season due to toe and neck injuries. That's because the Jets owe him $4.25 million in guaranteed salary for 2025.
He was designated as a post-June 1 cut, which means his remaining cap hit ($16.5 million) is spread over two years -- $8.8 million this year and $7.7 million in 2026. The Jets will have to carry his current cap charge ($12.8 million) on the books until June 1. At that point, it will drop to $8.8 million -- a $4 million net savings.
"C.J. was the epitome of a class act as a teammate, player and leader for the last six seasons," owner Woody Johnson said. "The passion and commitment he brought each day to the organization inspired his teammates to give their all. We sincerely thank C.J. for his countless sacrifices and dedication, and wish him all the best moving forward."
Mosley was the emotional leader and signal caller on defense, but he got hurt and lost his middle linebacker job last season to Jamien Sherwood, a pending free agent who agreed to a three-year, $45 million extension Sunday.
Mosley missed three games with a badly bruised toe, returned for two games as a part-time player and suffered a freakish neck injury in the Week 8 pregame warmups. It was noncontact; he simply turned his head during a drill and aggravated a previous injury. He didn't play that day.
As it turned out, his season was over with what he called a herniated disc in his neck.
After three straight Pro Bowl seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Mosley arrived with great fanfare after signing a five-year, $85 million contract in free agency. At the time, it was the biggest contract for an off-ball linebacker. He renegotiated his contract last offseason, taking a pay cut on a two-year, $17.3 million deal.
His oft-stated objective was to help the Jets shed their losing reputation. That didn't happen. Mosley went 30-54, not including the 2020 season -- the year he opted out due to COVID concerns. He can take solace in knowing he was instrumental in the defensive turnaround. After finishing 32nd in yards allowed in 2021, the Jets have been a top-four defense for the past three seasons.
Mosley's time in New York also included a torn groin that required surgery in 2019. His best season was 2022, when he was named to his fifth Pro Bowl and was voted second team All-Pro.
"C.J. is a consummate professional and consistently held in the highest regard, both in our building and around the NFL," Mougey said.