Raheem Mostert breaks two Dolphins records on one play in win vs. Jets

Raheem Mostert now stands alone in Miami Dolphins history in not one, but two categories.

With his 2-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter of Sunday’s 30-0 win against the New York Jets, the running back set franchise records for both rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns from scrimmage in a season.

After teammates congratulated Mostert in the corner of the end zone, the running back dropped down to his stomach and then hopped up with his arms wide, mimicking as if he was on a surfboard riding a wave, his trademark celebration.

Mostert added a second rushing touchdown in the first half to put Miami up 24-0 at the break and bring his season totals to 18 rushing touchdowns and 20 total touchdowns from scrimmage.

Mostert last week had tied both records. Wide receiver Mark Clayton had the overall single-season touchdown record with 18 in the 1984 season while Ricky Williams originally set the club’s single-season rushing touchdown record with 16 in the 2002 season.

“It feels amazing,” said Mostert, a New Smyrna Beach native. “That was something that I didn’t necessarily think I would ever do. Especially with a guy like Ricky Williams’ rushing touchdowns, I thought the world of him.”

Mostert, 31, had just 19 total touchdowns in his career entering the 2023 season, so he eclipsed his career total this season in just 14 games. He has at least one rushing touchdown in all but three games so far this season.

He is just the fifth player in NFL history age 30 or older to score at least 20 touchdowns from scrimmage in a season. The others: Priest Holmes (27 in 2003 at age 30), John Riggins (24 in 1983 at age 34), Randy Moss (23 in 2007 at age 30) and Lenny Moore (20 in 1964 at age 31).

“There’s a lot of people on the team that have been told that they couldn’t, and there’s certain types of people that really thrive in those type of scenarios. Raheem was told he shouldn’t have an NFL career from his first draft day,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “You go undrafted, that’s something that people don’t really pay attention to, but that’s a heartbreak. Then you’re cut from a multitude of teams. He’s one of the strongest-willed people that I’ve ever been around.”

And this might not be the end of the accolades for Mostert this season. If he gets two more rushing touchdowns this season, he would be the 10th player in NFL history with at least 20 rushing touchdowns in a season and the first since LaDainian Tomlinson set the NFL record with 28 rushing touchdowns in the 2006 season.

The others to accomplish that feat: Shaun Alexander (27 in 2005), Larry Johnson (20 in 2005), Holmes (twice, the 27 in 2003 and 21 in 2002), Terrell Davis (21 in 1998), Larry Allen (21 in 1996), Emmitt Smith (twice, 25 in 1995 and 21 in 1994), Joe Morris (21 in 1985) and Riggins (the 24 in 1983).

Mostert is also on the verge of his first career 1,000-yard rushing season. He finished the game with 966 rushing yards. Should he get there, Mostert will be the 11th player in Dolphins history with a 1,000-yard season and the first since Jay Ajayi in 2016. The others: Williams (three times), Larry Csonka (three times), Ajayi, Lamar Miller, Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, Lamar Smith, Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Delvin Williams and Mercury Morris.

For Mostert, who is also the current leading vote-getter among AFC running backs for the 2024 Pro Bowl, it’s been a breakout year and gratifying season after early-career setbacks that included injuries and being cut by multiple teams, including the Dolphins.

On Sunday, though, he could laugh about it all.

“Miami one of those teams that I had on my list, but all is forgiven,” he said. “No hard feelings. It was a different time then and I grew up from that moment and so did the organization, apparently.”