We hit 31 in our Raiders countdown to kickoff. Who wore it best and who's wearing it now
No. 31
Who's wearing it now: RB Raheem Mostert
Mostert has long been one of the most electric athletes in the NFL. Though he entered the league in 2015 as an undrafted free agent out of Purdue, he didn't break out until 2018 with the 49ers. That season he averaged 7.7 yards per carry which jumped his workload from 34 carries that season to 137 carries the following season. He finished that season averaging 5.6 yards per carry with eight touchdowns. Then was an absolute monster in the playoffs with 336 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
Injuries would upend his career in San Francisco, but a move to the Dolphins would revitalize him. He is just a season removed from a Pro Bowl season in which he put up 1012 yards and a league-leading 18 touchdowns while adding 25 catches for 175 yards and three more touchdowns. Now at age 33, he will be seen as the primary backup to Ashton Jeanty and receiving back.
Who wore it best: S Jack Tatum
Some of you might be thinking, 'wait, wasn't Tatum number 32?' Well, yes, he was. But he spent the first three years of his NFL career at number 31. And since Marcus Allen took the best to wear 32, Tatum gets his due for his first number.
He was a full time starting safety for the Raiders from day one as the team's pick at 19 overall in the 1971 NFL Draft. He made his first Pro Bowl in 1973 while still wearing number 31. He would switch to number 32 the following season, make two more Pro Bowls as the most feared, hard-hitting safety in the league. He roved the Raiders dominant defense throughout the 70s including for their first Super Bowl season in 1976.
Over the years, some of the greatest safeties in NFL history, including the likes of Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, have said they modeled their game after Tatum. Though Tatum has never gotten the call to the hall. And likely never will, probably because he was deemed a dirty player by some. Many of whom have votes on the Hall of Fame committee.
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