Surfing a wave of success
move. So I just stayed still,’’ Mostert added. ‘‘Sharks sense two things: they sense blood, and they sense panic.’’
The shark passed ‘‘right in front of me’’, he said, and while Mostert avoided becoming the wrong kind of statistic, the episode helped him develop the mentality that would eventually produce impressive numbers on the gridiron.
‘‘It’s the same thing in football – you try not to think about it,’’ Mostert said. ‘‘We get concussions, injuries. I mean, you just go out there and play. And that’s kind of like the same mentality you have to have with surfing. You have to go out there and have fun.’’
‘‘He’s one of those guys, a chill guy, gets along with everyone,’’ 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said last week. ‘‘I can definitely see the surfer, skateboard mentality. He’s an awesome guy to be around. A great guy in the locker room.’’
Mostert has proved to be great on the field as well, and not just as a superb gunner on puntcoverage units. According to ESPN, he became the first player since at least 2001 to lead his team in special teams tackles (14) and rushing yardage (772) in the same season. He also led all qualified NFL running backs in yards per rushing attempt (5.6), finishing second overall to
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (6.9).
Team-mates admire both his style – ‘‘fearless,’’ left tackle Joe Staley said – and his story. ‘‘There’s nothing deceptive about him,’’ 49ers tackle Mike McGlinchey said. ‘‘He hits the hole, and sometimes it looks like a blur is going by you. He runs with such fire, runs so hard, is so strong and quick. There’s not enough great things you can say about Raheem Mostert.’’
San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk overlapped with Mostert during his brief Ravens tenure, and he believed then Mostert could thrive in the right spot.
‘‘He was doing phenomenal on special teams,’’ Juszczyk said. ‘‘It didn’t matter where we punted. He was making the tackle or he’s forcing a fair catch every single time.’’
This year, Mostert added two more important dates in his life. On March 19, the 49ers signed him to a three-year, NZ$12 million contract. His first child, Gunnar Grey Mostert, was born June 22. Monday evening, Mostert stood on a stage on the Levi’s Stadium field and held Gunnar in his arms, wearing an NFC champions T-shirt and taking questions from an interviewer.
‘‘That’s a moment I’m going to cherish forever,’’ Mostert said. ‘‘For him to be able to have that opportunity, be on stage with me after what I accomplished, after what I done been through, I can’t put it into words how it feels.’’
Mostert called Monday the happiest day of his life behind his wedding and the birth of his son. He will remember the date, even if he never has to write it down.
When Mostert sprinted past a would-be tackler at the line of scrimmage and outran everyone else on a 36-yard scoring play in the first quarter, he paid homage to his youthful pursuit by mimicking a surfer paddling out to a wave and hopping onto his board.
‘‘It just brings me back to being a kid, and enjoying life when I was younger. I still enjoy life, to this day – you’ve got to enjoy what you do, and I never take it for granted.’’
WASHINGTON POST