The New York Jets continued their housecleaning on Wednesday night by releasing five-time Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley.

The former Alabama All-American’s release follows the departures of wide receiver Devante Adams and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“It is hard to move on from a player like C.J. Mosley, who has given everything of himself to an organization,” said Aaron Glenn, the Jets’ new head coach. “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.”

Toe and neck injuries limited Mosley to 110 defensive snaps in four games in 2024, and his backup, former Auburn safety Jamien Sherwood, led the NFL in solo tackles playing in Mosley’s place.

The Jets signed Sherwood to a three-year, $45 million contract on Wednesday to keep him from departing in free agency.

After receiving Pro Bowl recognition in four of his five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Mosley joined the Jets as a free agent in 2019 for a five-year, $85 million contract that made him the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL.

In his first two seasons with New York, Mosley played in two games. He sustained a season-ending injury in the second game of the 2019 season, and he sat out the 2020 season under the NFL’s plan to play during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mosley returned to the field in 2021, and over the next three seasons he recorded 478 tackles, the fourth-most in the NFL during that span. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2022.

But before the 2024 season, Mosley signed a restructured deal, taking less money in a two-year, $17.25 million contract to stay with the Jets, who were facing a $21.5 million salary cap hit in the final year of the linebacker’s original deal with the team.

“I want to thank C.J. for his leadership and countless contributions to the New York Jets,” said Darren Mougey, the Jets’ new general manager. “C.J. is a consummate professional and consistently held in the highest regard both in our building and around the NFL. I wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”

The Jets cut Mosley even though the team owes him $4.25 million in guaranteed salary for the 2025 season, and his release also leaves dead money on New York’s salary-cap obligations for the coming season.

By designating Mosley as a post-June 1 release, the Jets will be able to spread across the next two seasons the $16.434 million in dead money that would have counted against the 2025 cap.

“C.J. was the epitome of a class act as a teammate, player and leader for the last six seasons,” Jets chairman Robert Wood 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 a two-time All-State linebacker for Theodore High School. In 2009, he earned the Class 6A Lineman of the Year Award and recognition as a Parade All-American.

At Alabama, Mosley was a consensus All-American in 2012 and a unanimous All-American in 2013, when he earned the SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker. Mosley played for two national-championship teams with the Crimson Tide.

Mosley entered the NFL as the 17th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.