Raheem Mostert made numerous city changes early in his career but found stability in San Francisco. With former 49ers OC Mike McDaniel now in Miami, Mostert will make another move.
The Dolphins plan to sign the speedy running back, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. After already adding Chase Edmonds, the Dolphins are set to deploy a new-look backfield with an NFC West feel. Mostert agreed to a one-year, $3.125MM deal, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Though the 49ers discussed a deal to keep Mostert, he will head back to Miami.
This marks a reunion of sorts for Mostert, who was with the Dolphins briefly (three weeks) in 2015. Mostert’s Dolphins stint came during a season in which the team had both Joe Philbin and Dan Campbell as head coaches; some staff turnover has occurred since.
McDaniel was with Mostert for almost the entirety of the running back’s Bay Area stay. Mostert caught on with the 49ers during Chip Kelly‘s season in San Francisco, and Kyle Shanahan kept him around for the next five seasons. While that tenure included extensive special teams work near the beginning, Mostert carved out a backfield role beginning the 49ers’ Super Bowl LIV-qualifying season.
Mostert, 30 in April, led the 2019 49ers with 772 rushing yards but did his most memorable damage in the playoffs, gouging the Packers for 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the NFC championship game. That total ranks second in NFL postseason history, behind only an Eric Dickerson 1986 performance. The 49ers agreed to a new deal with Mostert in 2020, after a trade request ensued, but the former journeyman could not recapture his postseason magic. Injuries intervened in both 2020 and ’21, with ankle and knee trouble sidelining him for much of the past two years. Mostert went down in Week 1 of last season with a knee ailment.
The Dolphins were both light in the backfield and understaffed up front last season. Miami ranked 30th in rushing in 2021, limiting an offense already restricted by wide receiver unavailability. The team is working to improve here, and these additions appear set to cut into Myles Gaskin and Duke Johnson‘s opportunities under McDaniel.