Linebacker C.J. Mosley called it a career on Thursday after 11 years in the NFL. Five of those were with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was one of the league’s best linebackers. He earned four Pro Bowl and All-Pro second-team nods with Baltimore and one more with the New York Jets in 2022.
Mosley was one of the most beloved Ravens during his tenure, holding down the middle of the field for five years in Charm City. He was a notable playmaker and sure-tackler and looked like the heir apparent to Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. Signs sounded like they were pointing toward a reunion in 2025, but a herniated disk in his neck that he suffered in 2024 forced an end to his career.
A C.J. Mosley reunion would have been spectacular
The potential reunion between Baltimore and Mosley had mutual interest. The door was open for Mosley to return to where it all started, and the Ravens could use the linebacker depth. After All-Pro Roquan Smith, the team does not have a proven player at the position on the depth chart. However, the now 33-year-old, who just celebrated his birthday, never had the chance due to his medicals.
Mosley likely could have come to Baltimore and competed for real playing time. The team has an open competition for the second starting linebacker next to Smith, and the pairing would have been electric to watch. Before injuries, the Alabama product was still playing at an elite level and is one of the smartest linebackers to touch the field in recent memory.
While the team looks to the younger linebackers in Trenton Simpson and Teddye Buchanan to contribute in 2025, Mosley would have been a great leader to have around for a championship run. He turned in five strong years in Baltimore when the team was struggling to recapture its identity, and just when quarterback Lamar Jackson was taking over the throne, Mosley was out the door and headed to New York the following season.
As the five-time Pro Bowler hangs up the cleats, Ravens fans cannot help but wonder what could have been. Mosley was a fan favorite and is one of those players who deserved a Super Bowl ring more than anyone else. He led a competitive Baltimore defense each year and came up with the big play when the moment called for it. He was a key factor in the two playoff appearances during his tenure, and while he was here for less than half of his career, he made a prominent impact on and off the field.