The free convective, unsteady, two-dimensional (2D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Darcy–Forchheimer Casson fluid flow via a vertical stretching sheet containing gyrotactic microorganisms was the novel aspect of this investigation. We rewrote the collection of partial differential equations (PDEs) as nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by considering an appropriate similarity variable. We solved the overhaul of nonlinear ODEs using MATLAB’s bvp4c approach. This study rigorously investigates the significance of gyrotactic microorganisms for Casson fluid motility. Additionally, this work investigates the impact of various parameters, including magnetic parameters, thermophoresis, Brownian motion, and radiation parameters, on temperature, motile microorganisms, velocity, and concentration profiles. We use graphs to illustrate the outcomes of various fluid flow parameters. Numerical tables display the effects of different parameters on skin friction, Sherwood number, Nusselt number, and the quantity of motile microorganisms. The unsteady parameter causes a drop in the velocity, temperature, concentration, and the density profile of microorganisms. Additionally, the Casson parameter leads to a decrease in the flow profile, while simultaneously increasing the heat, concentration, and microorganism density profiles. The microorganism density profile decreases as the bioconvection Schmidt number, Peclet number, and motile microbe parameter increase. We deem the new results extremely satisfactory when compared to earlier research. The fields of environmental remediation, biomedical sciences, and engineering may find this examination useful.