Raheem Mostert’s journey to Dolphins’ touchdown records is one of persistence and drive

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert grew up idolizing Ricky Williams. He and his brother wore Williams’ No. 34 jersey.

In last Sunday’s win over the New York Jets, when Mostert scored the first of his two touchdowns, he broke Williams’ single-season Dolphins rushing touchdowns record.

The feat led him to take a Tuesday drive back home to New Smyrna Beach, south of Jacksonville, on the player off day from Dolphins headquarters before preparation began this week to face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

“Me and my brother got to hang out at the park and we started reminiscing about life,” Mostert said. “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.”

Mostert’s 18 rushing touchdowns on the season now have him two ahead of Williams’ mark set in 2002. His 20 total touchdowns are two beyond Mark Clayton’s record established in 1984.

Twenty total touchdowns in 2023 for a player who, at 31 years old, had 19 career regular-season touchdowns heading into the season. He’s 34 yards away from his first 1,000-yard rushing season, with the 966 he currently has already topping last year’s previous career best of 891.

Mostert accomplishes this after being cut from seven different teams between 2015 and 2016 before finally settling with the San Francisco 49ers, where he first met now-Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.

One of those teams that let him go: the Dolphins, as he was also cut by the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Chicago Bears. Even the 49ers once released him before bringing him back.

In his second year with San Francisco, McDaniel arrived there to coordinate the run game.

“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.”

McDaniel had an impact on Mostert’s career arc, first growing into the running back that became a household name for running for four touchdowns in the 2019 NFC Championship Game to get the 49ers into the Super Bowl and eventually setting career bests in Miami.

“I remember the first conversation I had with Mike,” Mostert said. “I was just a curious cat, just trying to figure out how I can elevate my game, especially in the run game, especially with outside zone.

“Him coming here made it easier for me to make my decision to come here as well and try to grow as a player and as an individual. I’m somebody that wants to take it to new heights.”

And Mostert is one to reach career heights beyond the age when running backs normally tail off in production.

“My age isn’t stopping anything,” he said. “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 okay. You can go out here and still produce at a high level because, obviously, I’m doing that at an exceptional rate.”

Mostert has also expanded his game over time. Sure, he has always been a speedster, but he’s also tough to bring down.

“In his past, you could see the speed, but he had the physical element,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. “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.”

Beyond all his on-field accomplishments this season, Mostert has been instrumental in getting rookie running back De’Von Achane up to speed in a swift manner, Achane told Up & Adams Show.

Mostert and Achane face a Cowboys run defense that just allowed a season-high 266 yards rushing against the Buffalo Bills.

“Of course,” Mosterst said of visualizing the tandem do the same against the Cowboys. “You’re always trying to picture that. But at the end of the day, sometimes it doesn’t play out like that. … You get anxious and excited, but you do have to calm your nerves too because, at the end of the day, every Sunday is a different Sunday.”