Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert nears another career accolade in age-defying season

On Tuesday, Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert was back in his hometown of New Smyrna Beach, reflecting on what has been a full-circle moment.

The Florida native grew up a huge Ricky Williams fan and just 48 hours prior, he broke Williams’ franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a season. Mostert said that Williams reached out on social media to congratulate him after the accomplishment.

“I drove back to my hometown and me and my brother got to hang out at the park and we started reminiscing about life,” Mostert said on Thursday. “There was a time we both wore Ricky Williams’ jersey at one point when we were younger. So to be able to break that record, it’s so surreal for both him and I. We looked up to Ricky when we were younger.”

It’s been an age-defying and journey-affirming season for the 31-year-old Mostert. In the Dolphins’ 30-0 win against the New York Jets, he not only broke Williams’ record but passed Mark Clayton’s franchise record for most touchdowns from scrimmage in a season.

Mostert also became just the fifth player in NFL history age 30 or older to score at least 20 touchdowns from scrimmage in a season, joining Priest Holmes, John Riggins, Randy Moss and Lenny Moore.

With his next rushing touchdown, Mostert will surpass LeGarrette Blount for the third-most rushing touchdowns by an undrafted player in a season since 1967.

And he’s 34 yards away from his first career 1,000-yard season at an age when most running backs have been thrown by the wayside.

“It’ll mean a lot,” Mostert said. “Being a running back, that’s always the goal is to try to get 1,000 and break that 1k. But I try not to think about it and just go out there play the game. I know I got 34 yards left I got to accomplish, but all in all, I’m just ready to play this game.”

Just four months ago, there was more talk about potential Dolphins running backs than the ones currently on the roster. Players such as Dalvin Cook and Jonathan Taylor were linked to Miami but deals never came to fruition. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel continued to emphasize his faith in the team’s backfield, led by Mostert.

In 2022, Mostert led the team with a then-career-high 891 rushing yards, just one year removed from a serious knee procedure. But Miami ranked toward the bottom of the league in rushing, which McDaniel attributed to his play calling rather than the talent of the team’s running backs.

In 2023, the Dolphins have ranked among the league’s best rushing offenses this season, spearheaded by the efforts of Mostert.

“In his past, you could see the speed, but he had the physical element,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. “Now it’s one of those things that when you work with the guy, you can see his passion for the game, and how so many parts as his career went. He has that natural chip on his shoulder ready to play every day. I think it’s just part of his running style. You saw a lot of the speed in the past, but now you’re seeing him really showcasing who he is. We, as a staff, can’t say enough about him and what he brings to this football team, and who he is as a man. He is what you look for in football players.”

When McDaniel arrived as head coach of the Dolphins, Mostert was one of the first players the team signed. His speed and vision made him an ideal fit for the zone running scheme McDaniel implemented. But the two also built a strong relationship during their time with the San Francisco 49ers. Mostert had been cut by several teams, including the Dolphins, and dealt with injuries at points of his career only to bounce back every time, using those setbacks as more fuel.

“What makes him him is the chip on his shoulder that he uses for a competitive advantage never goes away,” McDaniel said. “So, he finds in one way, shape or form to find his formula, which is that no one thinks he’s good enough ever. That’s the way he looks at it. You got to understand the stuff that he’s gone through in his career is real. That would break most people. So it doesn’t surprise me.”

Even as he has entered his 30s, Mostert has continued to speak about his desire to be a Hall-of-Fame player, which may seem preposterous at this point of his career. Whether realistic or not, the mindset is emblematic of a player who has pursued his goals, even when it’s been denied so many teams.

“I keep hearing these chatters about age and everything,” Mostert said. “Obviously, my age isn’t stopping anything. I’m just trying to set the standard for a group of guys who want to come in and feel like if you want to be a 31-, 32-year-old running back, it’s OK. You can go out here and still produce at a high level because obviously I’m doing that at an exceptional rate. It’s just a lot of fun and I’m having fun doing it.”