Dominique Raheem Mostert (born April 9, 1992) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.
Mostert attended New Smyrna Beach High School in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where he played football and competed in track and field. Mostert led New Smyrna Beach to two playoff berths. After his senior season, Mostert moved on to Purdue University after accepting a full scholarship.
In his first collegiate season, Mostert set a school record as he averaged 33.5 yards a return, capped off with a 99-yard touchdown return in the bowl game. He finished the season with seven returns of 39 or more yards, including an 81-yarder at Indiana and a 74-yarder at Wisconsin. Against the Badgers, Mostert racked up 206 yards on five kickoff returns to break 42-year-old school records for total yardage and average yards per return. He also led the nation in average yards per return.
During his NFL career, Mostert has played for eight teams. He appeared in Super Bowl LIV with the San Francisco 49ers and earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2023 with the Miami Dolphins after leading the league in rushing touchdowns.
Early life Mostert attended New Smyrna Beach High School, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where he was a member of the football and track & field teams. As a football player under coach Lance Jenkins, Mostert returned nine kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns, in addition to having 39 receptions for 723 yards (18.5 average) and four touchdowns as a senior. He also recorded 81 tackles on defense. As a participant in the 2010 Central Florida All-Star Game, Mostert was named MVP after recording three receptions for nearly 100 yards and a 94-yard kick return touchdown. He also made an appearance in the Florida North vs. South football game.
As a track athlete under coach Brendan Robinson, Mostert was a standout sprinter, hurdler, and jumper. He won the 2010 FHSAA 3A District 6 title in the 300-meter hurdles. At the 2011 FHSAA 3A Outdoor State Finals, Mostert finished first in the 100 meters with a time of 10.68 seconds and placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 37.95 seconds.
Mostert committed to Purdue University on January 14, 2011. He chose Purdue over football scholarships from Indiana University, Marshall University, the University of Illinois, the United States Naval Academy, Rutgers University, the University of Miami, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Central Florida, and Wake Forest University.
College career
Mostert attended and played college football at Purdue from 2011 to 2014. In his first collegiate season in 2011, Mostert set a school record as he averaged 33.5 yards a return, capped off with a 99-yard touchdown return in the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against Western Michigan. He finished the season with seven returns of 39 or more yards, including an 81-yarder at Indiana and a 74-yarder at Wisconsin. Against the Badgers, Mostert racked up 206 yards on five kickoff returns to break 42-year-old school records for total yardage and average yards per return in a single game. (41.2) For his efforts against Wisconsin, Mostert was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week, becoming the first Purdue freshman to do it since Rob Henry in October 2010. Mostert's 837 kickoff return yards are the second best in school history for a single season. He is now ranked 13th on Purdue's career kickoff return yards.
In May 2012, Mostert was named to the preseason Jet Award watch list, an award given to the top return specialist in the NCAA. During spring practice, he was named a captain for the 2012 season. In the 2012 season, Mostert finished with 16 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown to go along with 18 kick returns for 463 yards.
In the 2013 season, Mostert finished with 11 carries for 37 yards to go along with 11 kick returns for 258 yards and a touchdown, which was a 100-yarder against Penn State.
Moster's role expanded in the 2014 season. He finished with 93 carries for 529 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 34 kick returns for 731 yards.
Mostert was also a member of the Purdue track team. He was ranked by NFL.com as the fastest college football player in the NCAA, with only Oklahoma State wide receiver Tyreek Hill possessing a faster 100m time (9.98 s). Mostert took gold in both the 60 meters (6.63s) and 200 meters (20.73s) at the 2014 Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships. He qualified for the 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100 meters (10.15s), 200 meters (20.65s) and as a member of 4x100-meter relay squad.
Professional career
Philadelphia Eagles After going undrafted during the 2015 NFL draft, Mostert signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles. He had an excellent preseason; between his 157 rushing yards and 191 receiving yards, totaling for 348 yards, Mostert led the NFL in yards from the line of scrimmage in the preseason. He also added in five kick returns for 162 yards. Despite this effort, Mostert was cut on September 4 in preparation for the Eagles having to cut their roster down to 53, but was signed to the practice squad two days later.
Miami Dolphins (first stint) On September 14, 2015, the Miami Dolphins signed Mostert off the Eagles' practice squad. He returned two kicks for 57 yards for the Dolphins during a Week 2 23–20 road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On October 13, Mostert was released by the Dolphins in hopes of moving him down to practice squad.
Baltimore Ravens On October 14, 2015, Mostert was signed by the Baltimore Ravens after third-string running back Lorenzo Taliaferro suffered a season-ending foot injury. Mostert returned five kicks for 164 yards in seven games with the Ravens.
On December 15, Mostert was cut by the Ravens in hopes of putting him on practice squad, but Mostert did not clear waivers.
Cleveland Browns On December 16, 2015, Mostert was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. He was named the starting kick returner for the final three games of the season and returned 12 kicks for 309 yards.
Mostert signed the Browns' one-year tender offer on March 7, 2016. On September 4, he was released to make room for players claimed off waivers.
New York Jets On September 6, 2016, Mostert was signed to the New York Jets' practice squad. However, he was released six days later.
Chicago Bears On September 13, 2016, Mostert was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad. Eight days later, he was elevated to the active roster. Mostert appeared in two games with the Bears in the 2016 season.
Mostert was released on October 3, but was re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released again on November 24.
San Francisco 49ers 2016 season On November 28, 2016, Mostert was signed to the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on December 31. Mostert played in the regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks the next day and finished the narrow 25–23 loss with 68 return yards and a six-yard rush.
2017 season On November 27, 2017, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Mostert was going to be placed on injured reserve with an MCL sprain. He finished the 2017 season with six carries for 30 yards and 83 return yards in 11 games and no starts.
2018 season Mostert played very sparingly during the first five games of the season. However, his role increased starting in Week 6 when he had 12 carries for 87 yards during the 33–30 road loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. In the next game against the Los Angeles Rams, Mostert recorded seven carries for 59 yards and four receptions for 19 yards during the 39–10 loss. Two weeks later against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football, Mostert rushed seven times for 86 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 52-yard rush in the third quarter before leaving the eventual 34–3 victory with a fractured forearm. Mostert was placed on injured reserve on November 2.
Mostert finished the 2018 season with 34 carries for 261 yards and a touchdown to go along with six receptions for 25 yards in nine games and no starts.
2019 season
On March 15, 2019, Mostert signed a three-year contract extension with the 49ers.
Moster began the season with nine carries for 40 yards in the season-opening 31–17 road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the next game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he had 13 carries for 83 yards to go along with three receptions for 68 yards and his first receiving touchdown of his career on a 39-yard screen pass from Jimmy Garoppolo during the 41–17 road victory. The following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mostert rushed 12 times for 79 yards in the 24–20 victory.
Following a Week 4 bye, the 49ers faced the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football. In that game, Mostert had seven carries for 34 yards and a fumble recovery during the 31–3 blowout victory. Three weeks later against the Carolina Panthers, Mostert scored his first rushing touchdown of the season on a 41-yard rush in the fourth quarter and finished the 51–13 victory with nine carries for 60 yards and the aforementioned touchdown.
During a Week 12 37–8 victory over the Packers, Mostert recorded six carries for 45 yards and a touchdown to go along with a 22-yard reception. In the next game against the Baltimore Ravens, he had his first 100-yard game, finishing with 19 carries for 146 yards and a 40-yard touchdown to go along with two receptions for eight yards during the 20–17 road loss. The following week against the New Orleans Saints, Mostert rushed 10 times for 69 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 40 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown pass thrown by wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in the narrow 48–46 road victory. Mostert rushed for a touchdown in each of the next two games against the Atlanta Falcons and Rams. During the regular-season finale against the Seahawks, he had 10 carries for 57 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a 16-yard reception in the 26–21 road victory.
Mostert finished the 2019 season with 137 carries for 772 yards and eight touchdowns along with 14 receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games and no starts. The 49ers finished atop the NFC West with a 13–3 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #1-seed. During the Divisional Round against Minnesota Vikings, Mostert rushed 12 times for 58 yards and recovered a fumble lost by punt returner Marcus Sherels before leaving the eventual 27–10 victory in the fourth quarter with a calf injury. Mostert returned from injury in time for the NFC Championship Game against the Packers, recording 29 carries for a franchise postseason record of 220 yards and four touchdowns (second in franchise postseason history only to NFL record-holder Ricky Watters, and tied with LeGarrette Blount for second-most in NFL postseason history) to go along with two receptions for six yards during the 37–20 victory as the 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LIV. It was the second-most rushing yards in NFL postseason history to Eric Dickerson's 248 in 1986. During the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, Mostert had 12 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown to go along with a two-yard reception in the 31–20 loss.
2020 season On July 8, 2020, Mostert requested a trade from the 49ers. He rescinded his request after securing a restructured contract with the 49ers on July 27.