49ers running back Raheem Mostert tore up the Green Bay Packers in the first half of the NFC Championship Game, carrying the ball 14 times for 160 yards and three touchdowns. At halftime, the 49ers were leading 27-0. He finished with 29 carries for a 49ers playoff-record 220 yards and four touchdowns as they rolled past the Packers 37-20. Next up are the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday, Feb. 2.
How Mostert ended up in San Francisco remains a wild story.
Mostert played his college ball at Purdue, receiving only sporadic playing time until his senior year, when he rushed for 529 yards. He went undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft, ultimately signing with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent. Somehow, Mostert managed to cycle through seven different teams over two seasons; the 49ers were Mostert's seventh team, inking him to the practice squad near the end of the 2016 season. Mostert didn't have a rushing attempt until he got to San Francisco.
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He managed to stick on the squad, but hardly played in the 2017 season after dealing with injuries. Heading into the 2019 season, he was buried on the 49ers' running back depth chart, but after injuries to Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida, Mostert was given a chance to thrive. He rushed for 772 yards in a career-best season, breaking out with 146 yards in a close loss to the Baltimore Ravens in December.
By the end of the third quarter of the NFC Championship game, Mostert had topped that December performance, rushing for 196 yards. That set a 49ers playoff record, previously held by Colin Kaepernick.
With Tevin Coleman questionable to return, the 49ers may need to lean on Mostert for the remainder of their playoff run.
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Michael Rosen is an SFGATE digital editor. Email: michael.rosen@sfgate.com.
