Get To Know The Guy Who Murdered The Green Bay Packers

Let's start with just a quick refresher on all 4 touchdowns. Pay special attention to how easy Raheem Mostert makes the (arguably) hardest job in sports look and friendly reminder this is the Green Bay Packers defense playing for a trip to the Super Bowl. This is not a preseason game I repeat not a preseason game:

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Equally impressive (or more impressive) = Raheem Mostert was cut seven times before sticking with the 49ers, and I know that because he told us. 

I also know that because Mostert was cut by the Bears in 2016 to make room for Joique Bell who you probably don't remember because it's Joique Bell. Not that we can complain in hindsight. Was he going to save the John Fox era? Is that why Matt Barkley closed the season 1-5? 

Absolutely not, but that didn't slow Bears twitter from going Full Meatball last night 

OF COURSE WE CUT A PACKERS KILLER

Yeah and OF COURSE you could anticipate that he'd put up the single greatest playoff game by any runningback in NFL history. 

So at this point I would like to go on record and say that we should all learn a little something from Raheem Mostert's determination. As far as fringe NFL runningbacks are concerned, he's been to hell-and-back. And that includes a career at Purdue watching his team punt inside the opponents' 40 yard-line time and again. Then going undrafted in 2015 and signing as a FA with the Eagles, who already had Demarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles:

Eagles 2015 - Mostert had an excellent preseason; between his 157 rushing yards and 191 receiving yards, totaling for 351 yards, he 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, he was ultimately cut on September 4, 2015,

Damn Eagles. Thankfully he gets a shot with the Dolphins 

Dolphins 2015 - 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 Week 2. On October 13, 2015, he was released by the Dolphins in hopes of moving him down to practice squad. Mostert did not clear waivers and was signed by the Ravens.

Sucks that he gets cut again but at least the Ravens want him and can use him. At least he's not going to get completely wasted somewhere…

Ravens 2015 - Mostert was signed by the Baltimore Ravens after losing third-string running back. Mostert returned five kicks for 164 yards in seven games with the Ravens. On December 15, 2015, Mostert was cut by the Ravens in hopes of putting him on practice squad; however, Mostert did not clear waivers again. 

Fuck me - that's 3 times now he's been sent to the practice squad and every time he ends up on a new squad. Let's hope this 4th team isn't completely toxic and known for ruining careers… 

Browns 2015 -  On December 16, 2015, Mostert was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. He was named the starting kick returner for the Browns final three games, where he returned 12 kicks for 309 yards.

And that's just the first year in the league. From here he gets a one-year deal with the Browns which sounds great until the week before the 2016 season:

Browns 2016 - On September 4, 2016, he was waived by the Browns to make room for players claimed off waivers

But now he's got some tape as a kick returner, you know he won't be on the sidelines long

Jets 2016 Part 1 - On September 6, 2016, the Jets' sign Mostert to their practice squad. 

See I told you guys. 

Jets 2016 Part 2 - On September 12, 2016, Mostert was released from the Jets' practice squad.

THE GODDAMN JETS JESUS CHRIST GIVE THIS GUY A FUCKING BREAK. SIX DAYS? 

Bears 2016 - On September 13, 2016, Mostert was signed to the Bears' practice squad. On September 21, he was elevated to the active roster. He appeared in two games with the Bears in the 2016 season. He was released on October 3, 2016 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released by the Bears on November 24, 2016.

I lived through that 2016 season and (again) I can't really bitch about letting Mostert walk when you're starting Matt Barkley and John Fox is leading the team out of the tunnel. But still, being the last and final team to tell Mostert to kick sand just stings a little differently. Fortunately for him, he's able to catch on with the Niners:

Niners 2016 - On November 28, 2016, Mostert was signed to the 49ers' practice squad

He would go on to rush for 36 total yards in his first two seasons in San Francisco. Then in 2018 he ran for 7.7/carry on 34 attempts, enough to get some attention. Now, at age 27 and after splitting time for the first 17 games of 2019-20, Raheem Mostert is the toast of NFL runningbacks everywhere. Absolutely insane career path and a good lesson for all you youngsters out there to keep after your dreams. 

But also a good lesson for the GM's who whiffed on him. Maybe next time don't cut the guy who can outrun Tyreek Hill in the 100. Just a thought.