The New York Jets are looking to the past to shape their future, with linebacker C. J. Mosley promising the defensive line is ready to become the next 'Sack Exchange'.
Last offseason, the Jets were swept up in a wave of expectation and hope for the 2023 NFL season after their blockbuster trade acquisition of four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. However, Rodgers' debut with the Jets was cut short when the seasoned quarterback suffered a torn Achilles just four snaps into his opening series against the Buffalo Bills.
Despite having talented players like Sauce Gardner, Mosley, and the Williams brothers, the New York defence managed to keep the team somewhat in the playoff picture, but the attack under Zach Wilson struggled on an almost weekly basis.
The Jets started with a 4-3 record only to suffer five consecutive losses, scoring no more than 13 points, leading to a disappointing 7-10 finish without playoffs.
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As the defensive captain, Mosley was responsible for leading and inspiring a high-performing unit each week. The 31-year-old credited Rodgers with helping him ensure the right message was being sent out to the locker room to ensure players continued to give their best despite the quarterback's season-ending injury.
“Ultimately, we came undone at the end after a promising run at the start of the year, but I just tried to keep guys motivated like they were before Aaron got hurt,” Mosley exclusively told The Mirror US Sport. “When it was clear we weren’t going to make the playoffs, I asked Aaron for advice on keeping guys motivated - and he told me to just keep being honest and that the locker room was listening to my voice.
“He gave me confidence because I have incredible respect for him, even if he hasn’t made a big play for us yet but he’s the type of leader I want to be like. We share the same vision; he’s talking about winning championships, so anything I can learn from him I’m there.”
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C.J. Mosley (No. 57) is the captain of the New York Jets defense looking to dominate once again in 2024 (Getty Images)It's no surprise Mosley has become the mouthpiece of the Jets defense. A 10-year veteran, Mosley is a five-time Pro Bowler and a five-time Second-team All-Pro. He has been a premier linebacker in the NFL for years, all while embodying the blueprint to success having played college football for Alabama and starring for the Baltimore Ravens.
“Being a New York Jet for the second half of my career, there’s been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of peaks and valleys, but I couldn’t ask for more,” Mosley said. “I grew as a player, as a leader; my voice finally came after following the right people earlier in my career. I absorbed, I listened, I took notes, and watched successful guys heading to the Hall of Fame work and how they did it.
“I kept that mindset in New York and to see where we are now, it’s encouraging. We haven’t had many bounces come our way, but we keep getting back up - we just need to deliver.”
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The Jets defensive line, dubbed the 'Sack Exchange', manhandled offenses in the 1980s (Getty Images)The Jets revealed their new 'Legacy Collection' of three uniforms for the upcoming season on Monday, which pays homage to the Sack Exchange era of the early 1980s with double-stripe shoulders and single-stripe trousers. The kit includes a modernised version of the iconic Jets' Sack Exchange logo, bringing to mind the days when Joe Klecko and Marty Lyons used to dominate opposition quarterbacks.
Mosley, who is a fan of the 'metallic green' and 'beautiful' retro Jets logo on the helmet, is hopeful that the vintage-inspired jerseys will revitalise the team and propel them towards success. Maybe it could be time for the Jets to revive the glory days of the Sack Exchange and make a long-awaited return to the playoffs since they've not appeared since the 2010 NFL season.
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“Anytime you put a throwback on you’re reminded of the legacy you represent,” Mosley declared. “We got a chance to do something great in these uniforms.
“The past two or three years, our defensive line has put on a show - maybe it's the Sack Exchange 2.0. We made another signing in Haasan Reddick, adding another great pass-rusher and another great footballer on the edge so we have the chance to keep it going on defense. But we’re banking on the offense to play well, too; we want them to put up loads of points, keep us fresh on the sidelines so we can continue to dominate.”
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
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