Raheem Mostert
Teams
Miami Dolphins (2015,2022-present)
Baltimore Ravens (2015)
Cleveland Browns (2015)
Chicago Bears (2016)
San Francisco 49ers (2016-2021)
Playoffs
Appearances - 4 (2019,2021,2022,2023)
Conf Champ Games - 2 (2019,2021)
Super Bowls - 1 (2019)
Championships - 0
Awards and Honors
Pro Bowl - 1 (2023)
All-Time Ranks
League Leads
Rushing Yards (#10-2023)
Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2023, #9-2019)
Yards per Rush (#2-2019, #8-2023, #9-2020)
Rushing Yards per Game (#9-2023)
Total Touchdowns (#1-2023, #10-2019)
Raheem Mostert's route to stardom is much different than most players on this list. In 4 seasons at Purdue, he gained only 759 yards on the ground, and was not drafted in 2015. He played with the Eagles during the preseason, but failed to make the regular season roster.
During his rookie season, he played in a total of 11 games with the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns, appearing only as a kick returner. He played in 3 games in his second season, split between the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers, where he got his first NFL carry, which went for 6 yards, his only rush of the season.
He stayed with the 49ers for the next 2 seasons, mostly returning kicks, with a few rushing attempts mixed in, and he finished both seasons on injured reserve, barely playing in half of the possible games.
Things finally started looking up for him in 2019. He played in every game for the first time in his career, and was employed in the rushing game more as the season went on, finishing the year with 772 yards and 8 touchdowns, on 5.6 yards per carry. He really made a name for himself in that year's playoffs. In the NFC Championship Game, he rushed for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns, both the second-highest totals in playoff history, earning the 49ers a trip to the Super Bowl. He had a touchdown in the Super Bowl as well, but the 49ers fell to the Chiefs 31-20.
Mostert was named the team's starting running back for the 2020 season, a role he had never held before, even in college. He had 521 yards through 8 games before an ankle injury ended his season. He returned in 2021 as the starter, but was injured early in the first game, and missed the rest of the season to recover from a knee injury.
He signed with the Miami Dolphins for the 2022 season. He had shown a lot of promise up to that point, but had finished 4 of the previous 5 seasons injured. He had a decent season, gaining 891 rushing yards without missing a game, though he broke his thumb in the finale, causing him to miss their playoff game.
He exploded in 2023. He reached 1000 rushing yards for the first time in his career, pretty impressive for a 31-year-old, and he led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns, the 15th-highest total ever for a season. He also led the league in total touchdowns and was named to his first Pro Bowl.
It's hard to tell how far Mostert will go. He has a major injury history, but he also has a lot less mileage on his legs as a result. He showed in both 2019 and 2023 how explosive he can be when healthy. His career average of 5.2 yards per carry will be enough to place him in the top 10 all time once he has enough carries to qualify for the leaderboard, which will likely happen next year. He may not be the first name you think of among active players to make this list, but Raheem Mostert has shown that he is one of the greatest to play the game.
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