C.J. Mosley talks Campbell’s partnership, Aaron Rodgers, top linebackers and more
New York Jets linebacker CJ Mosley is the backbone of the defense. Mosley has been terrific for an elite Jets defense that currently ranks seventh in scoring (19.1 points per contest). Mosley will continue being a difference maker for the potentially playoff-bound Jets.
Mosley recently joined Jets Wire for an exclusive conversation while discussing his partnership with Campbell’s Chunky and the Chunky Sacks Hunger relief program. Mosley discussed Aaron Rodgers’ potential return, Sunday’s defeat over the Las Vegas Raiders, Robert Saleh’s defense, the play of quarterback Zach Wilson, fighting food inequality, and more. It’s full steam ahead for Mosley, who leads the Jets with 96 tackles this season.
Credit to Justin Melo of The Draft Network for helping out with the interview.
You’ve teamed up with Campbell’s Chunky to host a food donation event at Food Bank for New York City as part of the Chunky Sacks Hunger relief program. The program is designed to fight food inequality. Why is this cause so important to you and your family?
CM: “Giving back to our community has always been an important cause to me and my family. I come from a big family and we’ve always shared similar views on supporting the local community.
“Growing up as a kid, I attended many like-minded events like the one I’m helping Chunky host today. As an athlete, whether it was a college player or an NFL player, I always remembered the ones that were willing to give back to their community. I’m blessed to be in that position now.
“Today is another step towards my goal of bringing awareness to world hunger and how it impacts our local community. I wanted to educate my followers on how we can bring blessings to other people’s lives, no matter the situation you personally find yourself in.”
It’s a terrific program and you all are doing amazing work together to fight food inequality in your community. That was a difficult loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, but you’re still in the playoff hunt. What’s the message in the locker room?
CM: “The message was to keep fighting. The performance that we put forth against the Raiders, it wasn’t good enough to win a game in this league. We knew that. We understood that the moment we came off the field. At the end of the day, we just have to bounce back. That’s what the message was. It was pretty self explanatory.”
You’re in the midst of your ninth season and you seem more comfortable to me than ever, both on and off the field. You're currently on pace for the first 170-tackle season of your career. That’s amazing. What’s been your secret to achieving long-term success in a league that as you know, can move on from aging veterans so quickly?
CM: “Consistency is always the key. That’s the main thing. Staying healthy is also of the utmost importance. Some of that, I can control, but as we say in football, there’s a 100% chance of injury. I’ve been blessed to stay on the field as long as I have. I had a little hiccup with an injury a few years ago, but I worked hard to get my body past that. Consistency and doing the right things are key to achieving long-term success. I’ve always been accountable. I handle my business out there.”
It’s also Year Three for you in coach Robert Saleh’s excellent defense. How has coach Saleh’s defense changed since he arrived?
CM: “I actually wouldn’t say the defense has changed much. I would say the personnel has changed and we now understand the defense at a better level. We understand how we want to play. We understand the style of defense coach Saleh wants us to play. We now have a better understanding of how offenses are trying to attack us.
“Knowing what they’re trying to do as an offense helps us prepare appropriately. We’ve all gotten a lot smarter in this defense. This coaching staff has put us in the right spots to experience success. We have to go out there and execute at the end of the day.”
No player is at their best for the entire duration of a 17 game season. What advice have you offered Zach Wilson when he hasn’t been as good as he hopes to be?
CM: “I’m very picky on how I speak with my teammates on offense. First off, I don’t play offense and I’m not in their shoes. I have a ton of respect for those who play the quarterback decision because I realize how difficult it is.
“I’m not in that meeting room. But I am his [Zach Wilson’s] teammate, and I’m his brother in a sense. Anything coming from me towards him [Wilson] is all positivity. I’m always telling him that the defense has his back no matter what.
“That’s our approach on defense and as a team as a whole. We always want to put our best foot forward so we can get the offense as many possessions as possible.”
That’s a terrific approach. Would you like to see Aaron Rodgers return this season? He’s reportedly targeting a mid-December return.
CM: “As a fan of Aaron Rodgers the quarterback, I would 100% love to see him play football again this season (laughs). As his teammate, I just want him to be healthy and as close to 100% as he can be whenever he decides to play football again. As the captain of the defense, we have to continue doing our part while he’s sidelined.
“It’s going to be hard for him to come back [this season] if there’s nothing to play for. There’s a reason why he came here. He believed in our ability to play meaningful football. He’s not the reason why we’re in our current position. He’s not the reason why we’re still fighting for a playoff spot. We have to handle our business as a unit so that when he does get back, we have to keep holding our own and staying accountable.”
Playing linebacker is such a physical position and you’re the poster child of physical play. Who are your top five linebackers in the league right now?
CM: “You’re putting me on the spot with that one (laughs). Off the top of my head, definitely Fred Warner. When I first came to this defense, he was probably the main linebacker I watched tape on as I prepared to play in coach Saleh’s defense. Watching him helped me understand the technique required to play the position in this defense. It helped me understand what this defense was going to ask us linebackers to do.
“I have a lot of respect for Roquan Smith in Baltimore. I appreciate how he plays the game every week. Erik Kendricks, I watched a lot of his tape when he was in Minnesota. I have to throw myself in there (laughs). I obviously have to include my partner in crime Quincy Williams as well. I think he’s been phenomenal in this defense. He’s taken a huge step forward in this defense over the past three years. His speed and the way he shows up to work every day, he makes my job a lot easier.”
That’s a terrific list. We've appreciated your time. Thank you for the excellent work you’re doing with Chunky Sacks Hunger to help fight food inequality at Food Bank for New York City. What are CJ Mosley's goals for the rest of the 2023 campaign?
CM: “For the season, every time I wake up and go to work, my plan is to be a champion. That’s why I came here. That goal will never change no matter what we achieve. Every Sunday, the goal is to get one step closer to winning a Super Bowl.
“That’s why I hold myself and my brothers to the highest standard imaginable. Winning a Super Bowl for this community is the No. 1 goal.
“As for Chunky Sacks Hunger, our goal is to get one step closer to ending world hunger.”
