MIAMI — Tattoos are important to many athletes, permanent ink displaying a significant sentiment. San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert described one such tattoo for him on Monday at Super Bowl Opening Night.
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“I’ve got a Bible verse on my chest — Psalm 23:4-6, and it goes: ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for God is with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.’ And that right there in itself explains my life,” he said. “Everything that I went through, I went through in darkness, and I’ve been able to come out with the Light and the Good Lord’s Prayer and His Word. That’s a big part of my life and I really take that into consideration every time I step out on the field.”
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Mostert also lists the verse on his Twitter page, where he commonly shares about his faith:
God's plan is the best plan.
— Raheem Mostert (@RMos_8Ball) September 8, 2016
This particular tweet from 2016 came during a tumultuous time in his life and career. He was trying to make his way in the NFL, being signed and then cut repeatedly throughout 2015 and 2016. In all, Mostert spent time with seven different NFL franchises before finding a home in San Francisco. He went undrafted out of Purdue in 2015 and caught on with NFL teams mostly due to his ability as a kick returner and special teams player. Mostert’s first rushing attempt didn’t come until he was with the 49ers in 2016, and his first rushing touchdown didn’t come until 2018.
His breakout year came this season, as he rushed for 772 yards and eight touchdowns on 137 carries in the regular season. And his breakout game came in the NFC championship game — 29 carries for 220 yards and four touchdowns. After the monster performance, propelling San Francisco to Super Bowl LIV, Mostert praised God.
“I would like to thank God first and foremost for blessing not only myself but everybody in the organization to be in the position that we’re in,” he said during the postgame press conference.
Mostert’s previous best NFL game took place last month, when he rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown against Baltimore. But his playoff performance moved him to the front of the 49er running back rotation. San Francisco has used Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida in the backfield all season long. Together, the trio helped San Francisco average 235.5 yards per game on the ground, the best rushing attack in the NFL by a healthy margin.
That running game will be key for the 49ers to defeat Kansas City on Sunday. Super Bowl LIV, in Mostert’s home state of Florida, kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
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