DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) - Former Alabama Crimson Tide star linebacker C.J. Mosley announced on Thursday that he would be retiring from the NFL after 11 years playing professional football.
Mosley, who also turned 33 on Thursday, made the announcement with a video posted to social media that showcased highlights from his career at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels.
“I spent my whole life and career building my legacy. Now it’s time to start a new chapter with new dreams. It won’t be easy, but I’m here to tell you every sacrifice is worth it,” Mosley said in the narration of the video posted Thursday.
A native of Theodore, Alabama, Mosley was a standout athlete for his hometown Bobcats. On the gridiron, he was a two-time Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) 6A All-State selection and was also named the 6A Lineman of the Year during his senior season in 2009.
Mosley, who also played basketball and ran track at Theodore, became the school’s all-time leading tackler with over 500 stops in his high school career, with 176 of those coming during his junior campaign and another 186 the following year.
He would make his commitment to the University of Alabama during the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and his arrival in Tuscaloosa in 2010 was a loud one, as he played in all 13 games during his freshman season with the Crimson Tide and was named a Freshman All-American in 2010.
After injury troubles during his sophomore season in 2011, Mosley led Alabama in tackles in 2012 (107) and as a senior in 2013 (108) while being named an AP first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection in both years. He also led the Tide defensively towards a second-straight BCS National Championship during his junior season in 2012, and was honored as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and presented with the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker.
Mosley led Alabama in tackles in 2012 (107) and as a senior in 2013 (108) while being named an...
Mosley led Alabama in tackles in 2012 (107) and as a senior in 2013 (108) while being named an AP first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection in both years. (Source: Alabama Athletics Communication)
He would finish his Alabama career with 315 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and six total touchdowns (three defensively, two return touchdowns, one passing touchdown).
Mosley would be selected 17th overall in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, where he would spend five seasons before signing with the New York Jets in 2019 and spending his final six seasons as a pro before being released on March 12 after an injury-ridden 2024-25 season.
In his 10 seasons and 133 games of play professionally (he opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Mosley recorded 1,083 career tackles, 12 sacks, 12 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and three defensive touchdowns.
Mosley was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team in 2014, was a five-time second-team All-Pro (2014, 2016-2018, 2022), and a five-time Pro Bowl selection (2014, 2016-2018, 2022).
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