Malik “Manny” Muhammad II, a fourth‑round selection of the Chicago Bears, arrives in Chicago carrying the weight of a football‑rich lineage.
Born and raised in the Dallas metro area, Muhammad grew up in a household where defensive backs were the norm, his father sharing the same name and a brother, Jabbar, also carving a path in the secondary.
At South Oak Cliff High School, he helped the team to back‑to‑back state championships, showcasing a knack for playmaking that caught the eyes of college recruiters.
High School Stardom and College Rise
His collegiate journey at the University of Texas saw him become a mainstay in the Longhorns' defense, logging 97 tackles and 16 pass breakups over 40 games with 36 starts.
Describing himself as an old‑school cornerback, Muhammad has studied the techniques of players like Jaylon Johnson and sought counsel from former Bears stalwart Charles “Peanut” Tillman.
A Chip on His Shoulder
The draft board had placed him among the top 104 prospects, yet he slipped to the fourth round, a fall that only sharpened his resolve to prove his worth. Now with a contract in hand and a clear target on his back, Muhammad is channeling the competitive edge instilled by his family into a quest to earn a starting role in Chicago's secondary.