Raheem Mostert wants to be known as a “bad mo-fo”

Raheem Mostert proved he was worth more than his contract by leading the 49ers in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2019.

Even with all of the accolades, the fifth-year running back from Purdue still isn’t done proving himself on the field. “I just want to go out there and be dominant,” Mostert said on Tuesday via video conference. “When I step out on to that field I want everybody to say, ‘That’s a bad mo-fo,’ you know? ‘He’s somebody that we can’t take lightly.’ I want to put fear in other team’s eyes. That’s my mind set.”

Mostert dominated the 2019 NFC Championship game, rushing for 220 yards and a whopping four touchdowns as the 49ers solidified their path to Super Bowl LIV. This may have been a shock to many who knew him as solely a special teams ace.

“Even when I’m playing gunner, I just want people to know that I’m the best special teams player to ever play this game,” Mostert said. “That’s the mindset I’m going to have at running back.

“I want them to know that I’m the best running back to ever play this game, even though it doesn’t show as far as my career. I don’t necessarily care about that. I always tell myself, once I get that opportunity, I’m never going to look back. That’s what I have to hold myself up to, that type of standard, especially with the guys that are in this group.

Mostert has never actually been tapped as the starter for a game but, to him, that doesn’t matter. The 49ers running back says he has that “starting mindset" whenever he steps onto the field. He sees that attitude throughout the locker room.

“I know all the guys in this building, we have some unfinished business,” Mostert said. “We’ve seen all the different sayings and stuff like that how a team doesn’t make it back to the Super Bowl the following year. We don’t care nothing about that.

“Just like, I think George [Kittle] emphasized it, in the Super Bowl, he will be back. I think that was everyone’s mentality. I feel like we’re going to be back this year and we’re actually going to win it. That’s our goal, that’s our mindset.”

Mostert explained what a difficult decision it was to report to training camp in California, leaving his wife and year-old son in Cleveland as a precaution for COVID. The couple is expecting their second son in September.

Still, through all of the protocols and procedures in place to prevent the virus at the facility, Mostert shared that the excitement everyone has to be back at work is incredibly high.

“That energy now is just crazy especially during these walk throughs,” Mostert said. “Guys are really amped up. It’s more so a run-through slash miniature practice. I know I’m not allowed to say that, but it’s so awesome, the energy is just unbelievable.

“We love each other and this is a family and a brotherhood and we’ll fight for it. We’re definitely feeling like ‘Hey, look, we’re back in our Super Bowl form.’ We got some unfinished business and we’re ready to take care of business.”