Raheem Mostert Bio
Dominique Raheem Mostert is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers from 2011 to 2014, starring as a return specialist before transitioning into a featured back at the professional level. After going undrafted in 2015, Mostert signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and went on to play for several NFL teams, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2023 with the Miami Dolphins.
Early Life and Background
Raheem Mostert was born on April 9, 1992, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a coastal city on the state’s Atlantic shore. He grew up near the ocean and developed a lifelong love of the water, later becoming an advocate for ocean conservancy. His hometown is widely known as the shark-bite capital of the world, and Mostert often surfed in the Atlantic during his youth.
Mostert attended New Smyrna Beach High School, where he played football under coach Lance Jenkins and ran track under coach Brendan Robinson. As a senior, he returned nine kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns while also adding 39 receptions for 723 yards and four scores on offense, plus 81 tackles on defense. He was named MVP of the 2010 Central Florida All-Star Game and later competed in the Florida North vs. South football game.
As a track athlete, Mostert was a standout sprinter, hurdler, and jumper. He won the 2010 FHSAA 3A District 6 title in the 300-meter hurdles and later finished first in the 100 meters at the 2011 FHSAA 3A Outdoor State Finals with a time of 10.68 seconds. His elite speed eventually became one of his defining traits as a professional football player.
Path to American Football
On January 14, 2011, Mostert committed to Purdue University, choosing the Boilermakers over scholarship offers from Indiana, Marshall, Illinois, the United States Naval Academy, Rutgers, Miami, Southern Mississippi, UCF, and Wake Forest. He arrived in West Lafayette as a return specialist and made an instant impact as a freshman.
In his first collegiate season, Mostert set a Purdue school record by averaging 33.5 yards per kickoff return, highlighted by a 99-yard touchdown return in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Western Michigan. He finished the year with seven returns of 39 or more yards, including an 81-yarder at Indiana and a 74-yarder at Wisconsin, where he piled up 206 yards on five returns to break 42-year-old school records for total yardage and average per return. His 837 kickoff return yards ranked second in school history for a single season, and he was named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week.
Mostert continued to contribute on returns and special teams in 2012 and 2013 before expanding his offensive role in 2014, when he rushed for 529 yards and three touchdowns. He also starred on Purdue’s track team, winning gold in the 60 meters and 200 meters at the 2014 Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships and qualifying for the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in the 100 and 200 meters and the 4×100-meter relay.
Raheem Mostert Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, Mostert signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles and impressed with 348 total yards from scrimmage in the preseason. He was released in early September, signed to the practice squad, and then claimed by the Miami Dolphins on September 14, 2015, where he returned two kicks for 57 yards in a Week 2 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Over the next several months, Mostert bounced between practice squads and active rosters with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Chicago Bears. He returned 12 kicks for 309 yards in three games as the Browns’ starting kick returner at the end of 2015, and appeared in two games for the Bears in 2016, but never stuck with a roster long enough to establish himself.
San Francisco 49ers Breakthrough (2016–2021)
Mostert signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad on November 28, 2016, and was promoted to the active roster in late December. He spent 2017 and most of 2018 in a limited role before erupting in 2019 under head coach Kyle Shanahan. That season, he rushed for 772 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 180 receiving yards and two scores, helping the 49ers finish 13–3 as the NFC’s top seed.
His playoff run was historic. In the Divisional Round win over the Minnesota Vikings, Mostert added 58 rushing yards and a fumble recovery before leaving with a calf injury. He returned for the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers and set a franchise postseason record with 29 carries for 220 yards and four touchdowns, the second-most rushing yards in a single postseason game in NFL history. He then scored a touchdown in Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs, though the 49ers ultimately fell 31–20.
On March 15, 2019, Mostert signed a three-year contract extension with San Francisco. The following two seasons were disrupted by injuries, including a high ankle sprain, a fractured forearm, and significant knee cartilage damage in 2021 that ended his season, but he remained a key part of the 49ers’ backfield plans throughout his tenure.
Miami Dolphins Era (2022–2024)
On March 17, 2022, Mostert signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. In his first season back in Miami, he rushed for 891 yards and three touchdowns while adding 202 receiving yards and two more scores, establishing himself as a featured back. On March 15, 2023, he signed a two-year, $5.6 million contract extension.
The 2023 campaign was the best of Mostert’s career. He rushed for 1,012 yards and 18 touchdowns, added 175 receiving yards and three more scores, and led the NFL with 21 total touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and setting a Dolphins franchise record for touchdowns in a single regular season. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after a Week 6 performance against the Carolina Panthers in which he totaled four touchdowns.
In 2024, Mostert’s role diminished as he finished with 278 rushing yards and two touchdowns across 13 games and one start. He was released by the Dolphins on February 14, 2025.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2025)
On March 13, 2025, Mostert signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. In his first season in silver and black, he served primarily as a kickoff returner and complementary back, finishing with 22 carries for 104 yards, 12 receptions for 70 yards, and 23 returns for 673 yards across 12 games.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mostert’s game is built on elite straight-line speed, as he was once ranked by NFL.com as the fastest college football player in the nation. He excels on outside-zone runs and on kickoff returns, where his burst allows him to flip field position in a single play. Throughout his career, he has also developed into a reliable receiver out of the backfield, giving offensive coordinators flexibility in the passing game.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Mostert’s career came in the 2019 NFC Championship Game, when his 220-yard, four-touchdown performance set a 49ers postseason record and the second-highest single-game rushing total in NFL playoff history. He added a touchdown in Super Bowl LIV later that same postseason. In 2023, he set the Dolphins’ single-season touchdown record and earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
Raheem Mostert Career Wins
Although football’s win totals are typically measured by team success rather than individual victories, Mostert has been a key contributor on several winning teams, including the 2019 San Francisco 49ers squad that finished 13–3 and advanced to Super Bowl LIV. He has also authored some of the most memorable individual performances in recent NFL postseason history.
San Francisco 49ers Highlights
Mostert’s most productive stretch came with the 49ers from 2016 to 2021, a run highlighted by his record-setting 2019 season. His 220 rushing yards in the NFC Championship Game against the Packers remains the franchise’s single-game postseason record, and his eight rushing touchdowns that season tied a career high.
Miami Dolphins Highlights
In 2023, Mostert set the Dolphins’ franchise record for touchdowns in a single regular season with 21, earned his first Pro Bowl selection, and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his four-touchdown outing against the Carolina Panthers.
Las Vegas Raiders Highlights
In his first year with the Raiders in 2025, Mostert posted 673 kickoff return yards, providing a steady presence in the special teams phase while also contributing 104 rushing yards as a change-of-pace back.
Raheem Mostert Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Mostert’s parents and immediate family are limited, as he has generally kept his early family life private. He grew up in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where his passion for the ocean and the outdoors developed alongside his athletic pursuits. During his time with the 49ers, he kept a written list of all the teams that had released him, and he reviewed that list before every game as motivation.
Personal Life
Raheem Mostert married Devon Beckwith on March 3, 2017. The couple has three sons: Gunnar Grey, born in June 2018; Neeko, born on September 22, 2020; and Myles, born on June 7, 2022. The family has long supported causes close to Mostert’s upbringing, including ocean conservancy and melanoma awareness.
2025 Season Performance
Mostert’s 2025 campaign marked his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders after signing a one-year, $2.1 million contract in March. He carved out a role as a primary kickoff returner and change-of-pace running back, finishing the year with 22 carries for 104 yards, 12 receptions for 70 yards, and 23 kickoff returns for 673 yards across 12 games without a start.
His experience and breakaway speed provided the Raiders with a veteran presence in the return game, an area where his career average had long ranked among the league’s best. Even in a reduced offensive role, Mostert’s ability to flip field position remained a valuable asset for Las Vegas.
Looking ahead, Mostert’s contract is set to expire after the 2025 season, leaving his future beyond that year uncertain. His track record of productivity when healthy, combined with his special-teams value, suggests he will remain a candidate for backfield and return duties wherever he lands next.
