How Raheem Mosert and Joe Staley became bonded for life

Shortly after the locker room opened following the 49ers loss in Super Bowl LIV, Raheem Mostert stood near the entrance of the room, deep in conversation with 49ers legend Frank Gore.

Mostert was clutching a towel around his waist, just having emerged from the showers but he was transfixed, not even hinting that he needed to go to his locker to change.

What I did not know at the time was how much Mostert idolized Gore, how he looked up to him. I didn’t know that Mostert modeled his game after the running back who is currently ranked third in career rushing yards in NFL history and still playing.

That was the first time Mostert had met his idol, according to his agent Brett Tessler.

On Wednesday, Mostert spoke to local Bay Area media via video and shared not only how he was inspired by Gore but how that admiration bonded the journeyman running back to All-Decade left tackle Joe Staley.

Rewind to 2016, when Mostert was eating alone in the 49ers’ team cafeteria. He had just been cut by the Chicago Bears and Santa Clara was his fifth stop in his first two seasons in the NFL. Staley was the one who first broke bread with Mostert and welcomed him into the fold. Mostert took advantage of the moment.

“He’s one of those guys who’s a leader on the team,” Mostert said. “He’s going to be a ‘Forever 49er.’ I wanted to pick his brain so I asked him, 'What is it going to take for a guy like me to be like Frank Gore?’

At that moment, Staley and Mostert would be bonded forever as equally huge fans of the 15-year veteran running back.

“Joe really took me under his wing,” Mostert said. “Frank Gore is my idol. I love watching him play, and I know that Joe was blocking for him when he was here.”

Staley’s advice to Mostert was simple, and the running back’s memory of the conversation is still clear as day.

“Frankie G., he likes to work,” Mostert recalled Staley advising him. “You’re a great running back, and I can just tell by your personality, but you also got ball skills. You know Frankie G. works really hard. He’s probably one of the hardest working guys that I know.”

Since that day, Mostert has simply tried to live up to the same standard that Gore set for himself. In 2019 that work ethic paid off for Mostert. After four and a half seasons of being known primarily as a special teams ace, Mostert was thrust into the spotlight.

Mostert finished the 2019 regular season with 137 carries for 772 yards, 14 receptions for 180 yards and 10 all-purpose touchdowns. But it was the NFC Championship game facing the Green Bay Packers that was a highlight reel of Mostert’s abilities. He finished the game with 220 yards on the ground and four touchdowns.

Just a few weeks prior to that game, Mostert had the opportunity to pay Staley back for his friendship, advice and role as a mentor. It was Week 17 in Seattle and the 49ers had the incredible task of winning in order to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Mostert rumbled into the end zone twice on that cold Sunday in late December, but the it was the second time that was the most emotional.

With 5:55 left in the game, Mostert took the handoff from Jimmy Garoppolo and wove his way through the middle of the line, to the right of Staley and into the end zone. Mostert immediately turned around to look for his left tackle to give him the ball to spike in celebration.

“When I was able to give him that ball against Seattle after I scored the touchdown, a lot of emotions came out of that for him and he shared that with me,” Mostert said. “He was like, ‘Hey Raheem, you know, I want to just thank you for allowing me to spike the ball.'

“And I said ‘Hey Joe, you know I just want to thank you for doing your job on a consistent basis and being the leader that you are. I have no problem giving the ball, sharing that moment with you.”

Upon his retirement Staley shared how important and impactful that moment in Seattle was for him as well.

“I remember vividly in my mind being in my head in that moment being like, ‘Holy sh—, this is happening. We are going to beat the Seahawks right now in a huge game in Seattle on Sunday Night Football.’

“I remember bring like, ‘I’ve been waiting my whole career for this spike and I just put everything I had into it.’ Also at the last second I was like, ‘Don’t fall over.’ That meant a lot to me because of all of the heartache we had in Seattle over the years.”

Mostert will have to move on without Staley in front of him in 2020 but the two will always be bonded by their admiration for Gore, and what they went through together as 49ers. Mostert will always be thankful for their friendship.