Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert talks playing at 30, running with power vs. speed

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert visited the Ross Tucker Football Podcast this week and talked about his ability to play so well 10 years into his career.

The Miami Dolphins’ offseason training program has advanced into phase three, allowing for the team to start holding their organized team activities and preparing for minicamp at the start of June. The OTAs allow for the Dolphins to get back into offense versus defense 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, working on installing the playbook, making adjustments, and getting into the conditioning that will be required when July’s training camp opens in the South Florida heat.

Running back Raheem Mostert, heading into his 10th season in the NFL and third with the Dolphins, is coming off his first career Pro Bowl appearance and his first 1,000 yard season, totaling 1,012 yards last year. He also led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2023. Mostert joined Miami in 2022, his age 30 season, and recoded career highs with 181 carries and 891 yards. He topped both those numbers last year, including his 209 carries.

By age 30, most NFL running backs are heading into retirement or seeing their performances slip. Mostert seems to be getting better every year. How has he bucked that trend and continued to find success? Ross Tucker of the Ross Tucker Football Podcast recently spoke to Mostert about his success post 30-years-old.

“Early on in my career, I didn’t get the carries that some of those other backs that have already retired or placed that stigma of being a 30-year-old and up having that wear and tear,” Mostert explained. “I didn’t have that wear and tear; I was mostly a special teams guy. You go out there and play special teams, you probably play about 15, 20 snaps a game and then youa re moving on to the next. That was my career early on, that’s what I was partaking in, and I really enjoyed it. But now I am in this role where I have to do a little extra work taking care of my body. I have a cold plunge right outside my bedroom door. I can jump in anytime I want. Utilizing all the things that I need, especially right now at my age and where I am in my career, going on year ten. I’m just trying to maximize as much as I possibly can so I can stay healthy and be on the field.”

Mostert also detailed if he would prefer to run past a defender at full speed, or power through the defender. “This is where the power in me comes out,” he stated. “I like the physicality. If you play this game, if you play this sport for as long as I have, you just want to go out there and demolish somebody. Running faster is always going to be the case for anyone who lines up against me, I’m going to blow past you. I feel like it is more demoralizing when you run through somebody’s facemask. That’s something I feel like I try to bring every time I’m carrying the ball. If I can’t run past somebody, there’s only one other option: you’ve got to run through them.”

Mostert also talked about the loss of players like defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and guard Robert Hunt in free agency this year. You can check out his thought on the changes in the video here: