Before Malik “Manny” Muhammad II became a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears, he was the kid running around football fields in Dallas, surrounded by cousins who played the same position and carried the same competitive edge. In a family where defensive backs are everywhere, Muhammad’s rise from South Oak Cliff to Texas football felt less like a surprise and more like the next chapter in a growing football legacy.
The football bloodline runs deep in Muhammad’s family. He is one of several defensive backs to emerge from a Dallas-area family rooted in the sport, joining a long list of cousins who have played at the college and professional levels. Among them are Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, Miami Dolphins cornerback A. J. Green, SMU defensive back Abdul Muhammad, SMU edge rusher Billy Walton III, former Nevada cornerback and current NFL agent EJ Muhammad, and former North Texas cornerback Khairi Muhammad.
Muhammad was surrounded by football at a young age, which his former coaches believe gave him an advantage in his development.
“I remember Manny around the football field when he was little,” SMU cornerbacks coach Kyle Ward told Bears Wire. “When he was a freshman, you could tell he was fast, and he retained information really well. I even had seniors on the team at the time tell me, ‘Yeah, coach, you got one.’”
Developing at South Oak Cliff High School
Ward said Muhammad’s development was light-years ahead of both his teammates and even some of his cousins. He was taller than everyone else, technically sound, and always well-prepared, which helped him earn playing time as an underclassman.
Ward coached Muhammad at South Oak Cliff High School, though it was not the school Muhammad initially envisioned attending. Originally from the DeSoto area, Muhammad ultimately chose South Oak Cliff when it came time to decide where he wanted to play high school football.
That decision later helped lead South Oak Cliff to UIL Class 5A Division II state championships in 2021 and 2022 during Muhammad’s junior and senior seasons, ending a 63-year title drought for the school.
“One of our selling points to Malik and his family when he made the decision to come to South Oak Cliff was what we called the ‘return of the mecca,’” South Oak Cliff coach Jason Todd told Bears Wire.
The “return of the mecca” refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s victorious return to his home city in 630 AD, eight years after his exile. After winning back-to-back state titles, Todd said the phrase still carries deep meaning within the South Oak Cliff football program.
Muhammad’s early varsity experience, where he contributed on both sides of the ball, also helped prepare him to see the field as a freshman at the University of Texas.
Todd recalls a moment on the team bus heading to AT&T Stadium for a state championship game. Sitting behind him with NBA YoungBoy’s “Lonely Child” playing, Muhammad looked over and said, “I’m ready. Let’s go win this.”
To this day, the song remains part of South Oak Cliff’s pregame routine and is still used as a hype song before games.
Immediate impact with Longhorns
During his freshman season at Texas, Muhammad appeared in all 14 games with two starts. He recorded 31 total tackles, one interception, and four pass breakups. One of his biggest moments came in the Red River Rivalry when he blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.
Muhammad’s production increased during his sophomore season. He again played in all 16 games, recording 36 tackles and eight pass breakups. Over 40 career games with 36 starts, he finished with 97 tackles and 16 pass breakups.
“His maturation is the biggest thing that Texas football has helped him with, both playing high school and college,” Ethan Kirschner of ALK Sports told Bears Wire. “The spotlight in Texas is big, and he got on the field as a freshman, which only helped. He’s even killed throughout and extremely happy to be with the Chicago Bears and in that situation.”
Muhammad’s influences have Chicago roots
During pre-draft visits, Muhammad described himself as an old-school cornerback. He has never been overly focused on turnover numbers, despite recording only three career interceptions at Texas.
Muhammad told several teams, including the Bears, that cornerback Jaylon Johnson is one of the players he studies. He also had the opportunity to connect with former Bears cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman.
“Peanut Tillman was my chaperone at the draft combine,” Muhammad told Bears media after he was drafted. “We talked a little bit, and he was giving me tips on how he used to punch the ball out and prepare for games.”
He added: “And actually, in a couple of my interviews, when they asked me which corners I watch in the league, I mentioned Jaylon Johnson. I was like, ‘Yeah, he’s actually nice.’ I don’t watch a lot of the new-age corners. I really like old-school corners.”
Playing with a chip on his shoulder at the next level
Despite his production, Muhammad slid on draft night. Considered by many to be a top-104 prospect and a projected Day 2 pick, Muhammad expected to hear his name called earlier. Surrounded by family and supporters, he waited through the first two days without receiving the call.
Instead, he had to wait until Day 3, when the Bears selected him in the fourth round at 124th overall.
“I went later than what I thought and where I was supposed to go, but at the end of the day, it’s a moment for my family and a moment for myself,” Muhammad told FOX4 KDFW after his selection. “I’ve just got to be grateful and go show why teams shouldn’t have passed on me.”
Malik Muhammad II goes by “Manny,” a nickname he was given at a young age to help distinguish him from his father, who is also named Malik Muhammad.
Now a member of the Bears, teamed up with defensive backs coach Al Harris and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, Muhammad will compete for a spot on the field, and with the constant movement of players like Nahshon Wright moving on, the release of Zah Frazier, and the uncertainty of how long guys like Tyrique Stevenson could be on the team, Muhammad could see himself in bigger role sooner rather than later.
“I do have a chip on my shoulder,” Muhammad said during rookie minicamp. “But I mean, it was just a lot of emotions going on at the time. I mean, that’s a childhood dream. And I’m just blessed to be here in this position, be with a winning organization with the Bears in the city of Chicago.”
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: The Making of Malik Muhammad: Family, Football and the Chicago Bears
Reporting by Preston Zbroszczyk , Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
