Editing Muhsin Muhammad (section)

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
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|    height in = 1 3/4
|       weight = 217
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|     vertical = 33.0 
|     arm span = 33 3/8
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|         note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=23345 |title=Muhsin Muhammad, Combine Results, WR – Michigan State |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=June 1, 2023}}</ref>
}}

===Carolina Panthers (1996–2004)===
The [[Carolina Panthers]] selected Muhammad in the [[1996 NFL draft]]'s second round with the 43rd overall pick. He was the ninth wide receiver selected.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1996/draft.htm |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Muhammad made his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 1996 season against the [[1996 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]]. He had six receptions for 96 yards in the 22–20 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints - September 8th, 1996 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199609080nor.htm |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He recorded his first NFL touchdown on a 54-yard reception in Week 7 against the [[1996 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers - October 13th, 1996 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199610130car.htm |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He finished his rookie season with 25 receptions for 407 yards and one touchdown in nine games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad 1996 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MuhaMu00/gamelog/1996/ |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the 1997 season, Muhammed recorded 27 receptions for 317 yards in 13 games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad 1997 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MuhaMu00/gamelog/1997/ |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In the 1998 season, Muhammad led the Panthers with 68 receptions, six touchdowns, and 941 receiving yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1998 Carolina Panthers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/1998.htm |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad 1998 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MuhaMu00/gamelog/1998/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

Muhammad enjoyed an outstanding season in 1999 under new head coach [[George Seifert]] and his 96 receptions, eight touchdowns, and 1,253 receiving yards led to his first Pro Bowl selection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/probowl.htm |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> His 102 receptions during the 2000 season tied for the NFL lead. Muhammad averaged over 1,000 yards each season from [[1998 NFL season|1998]] to [[2000 NFL season|2000]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad 1999 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MuhaMu00/gamelog/1999/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad 2000 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MuhaMu00/gamelog/2000/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

Muhammad was injured for much of the [[2001 NFL season]], but he returned to form and eventually played a leading role in the Carolina Panthers' run to [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]] during [[2003 NFL season]]. Though the Panthers lost to the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] Champion [[2003 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] 29–32, Muhammad recorded the longest touchdown reception (85 yards) in [[Super Bowl]] history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rizzuti |first=Anthony |date=July 10, 2023 |title=Panthers will induct Julius Peppers, Muhsin Muhammad into Hall of Honor |url=https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/07/10/panthers-inducting-julius-peppers-muhsin-muhammad-2023-hall-of-honor/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=Panthers Wire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fowler |first=Scott |date=July 10, 2023 |title=Carolina Panthers select 2 more former stars to join team's Hall of Honor |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article277162903.html |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=Charlotte Observer}}</ref>

Muhammad's play during the [[2004 NFL season|2004 season]], where he led the [[NFL]] with a career-high 1,405 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns, earned him his second [[Pro Bowl]] invitation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 NFL Receiving |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/receiving.htm |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/probowl.htm |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He earned first team All-Pro honors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/allpro.htm |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> By the end of the season, Muhammad held all of the Panthers' receiving records, including catches (578), receiving yards (7,751), 100-yard games (26), and the top three single-game yardage totals (192, 189, 179). In addition, he tied [[Wesley Walls]] at 44 touchdown receptions.<ref name="MooseBio" />

Muhammad, who was due a $10 million roster bonus, and the Panthers could not agree on a contract after the 2004 season, and the team released him in February 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2005 |title=Panthers release veteran receiver |url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2005/02/25/Panthers-release-veteran-receiver/37481109378698/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> Hours after his release, the [[Chicago Bears]] offered the 32-year-old a six-year contract, and Muhammad left [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] for [[Chicago]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pasquarelli |first=Len |date=February 26, 2005 |title=Muhammad's deal can be worth as much as $30M |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2000387 |access-date=June 23, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

Muhammad's first stint with the Panthers was plagued with several negative experiences. He was the target of a [[racial slur]] from his [[quarterback]], [[Kerry Collins]]; testified at murder hearings for [[Rae Carruth]] and Deidra Lane (wife of [[Fred Lane (American football)|Fred Lane]]); and was arrested in 2003 on misdemeanor drug and weapon offenses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 25, 1997 |title=Panthers Say Collins Contrite |language=en-US |pages=3 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/25/sports/panthers-say-collins-contrite.html |access-date=June 26, 2023 |issn=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nowell |first=Paul |date=December 13, 2000 |title=Muhammad defends Carruth |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/muhammad-defends-carruth-1.246416}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lipsman |first=Benjy |date=June 14, 2005 |title=Dangerous |work=[[Chicagoist]] |url=https://chicagoist.com/2005/06/14/dangerous.php |url-status=live |access-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729020546/http://www.chicagoist.com/archives/2005/06/14/dangerous.php |archive-date=July 29, 2012}}</ref>

===Chicago Bears (2005–2007)===
Muhammad became one of the Bears' receiving threats during his first year with the team. He was also credited with encouraging a stronger work ethic within the team's receiving corps and advising young wide receivers such as [[Bernard Berrian]], [[Mark Bradley]], and [[Rashied Davis]].

Despite failing to catch several poorly thrown passes from [[rookie]] [[quarterback]] [[Kyle Orton]], Muhammad held himself responsible and promised reporters he would improve his performance. However, Muhammad was later seen complaining to Orton during a ''Sunday Night Football'' game against the [[2005 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]. After Muhammad's criticism, coach [[Lovie Smith]] benched Orton in favor of a fully recovered [[Rex Grossman]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eguchi |first=Julie |date=April 3, 2006 |title=Don't write off Muhammad just yet |work=RealFootball365 |url=http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2006/04/muhsin-muhammad-bears040306.html |url-status=usurped |access-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106050128/http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2006/04/muhsin-muhammad-bears040306.html |archive-date=January 6, 2007}}</ref>

Muhammad's statistics improved with [[Rex Grossman]] at quarterback in the [[2006 Chicago Bears|2006 season]]. He had his first one hundred-yard day with the Bears in their season opener against the [[2006 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]], and a second against the [[2006 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] during Week 3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers - September 10th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200609100gnb.htm |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings - September 24th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200609240min.htm |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> However, he saw less action as Grossman began to play inconsistently after the season's midway point. Muhammad defended Grossman from criticism and often supported him at press conferences.<ref>ChicagoBears.com, [http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=2793 Grossman displays poise and confidence in win] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215003712/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=2793 |date=December 15, 2006 }} Retrieved on January 19, 2007</ref> Muhammad finished the regular season as the team's leading wide receiver for the second consecutive time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 Chicago Bears Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi/2006.htm |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

Muhammad was the starting receiver for the Bears in Super Bowl XLI, making a touchdown reception in the first half of a 29–17 loss to the [[2006 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XLI – Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears – February 4th, 2007 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200702040chi.htm |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Muhammad became the third player in NFL history to score a Super Bowl touchdown with two different teams, joining Jerry Rice and Ricky Proehl.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2007 |title=Bears notebook: One they'd like to forget |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/bears-notebook-one-they-d-like-to-forget-09000d5d80024bfe |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Muhammad's age seemingly affected his endurance. Although he played all sixteen games in 2006, the Bears listed him as probable or questionable before many games.<ref>Chicago Bears.com, [http://www.chicagobears.com/team/injuries.asp Injury Report – Chicago Bears] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070119030143/http://www.chicagobears.com/team/injuries.asp |date=January 19, 2007 }} Retrieved on January 19, 2007</ref> Before the 2006 season, he revealed he had played through the 2005 season with a broken hand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad |url=http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/player.asp?sport=NFL&ID=1500 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104053018/http://fantasyfootball.usatoday.com/content/player.asp?sport=NFL&ID=1500 |archive-date=January 4, 2007 |access-date=January 19, 2007 |website=Fantasy Football {{!}} USA Today}}</ref>

Muhammad had a down year in [[2007 Chicago Bears season|2007]] with 40 receptions for 570 yards and three touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MuhaMu00/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The Bears released him on February 18, 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 19, 2008 |title=Bears release WR Muhammad; sign DE Brown to extension |work=[[NFL]] |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/bears-release-wr-muhammad-sign-de-brown-to-extension-09000d5d806bde90}}</ref>

After leaving the Bears, Muhammad told ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' Chicago is "where wide receivers go to die." The remark caught the attention of [[Darryl Drake]], the team's [[wide receiver]] coach. While Drake stated he was unfazed by Muhammad's remark, he argued former Bears wide receivers [[Bernard Berrian]], [[Justin Gage]], and [[Bobby Wade]] developed in Chicago and enjoyed successful careers after leaving.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 18, 2008 |title=Bears Team Report – Inside Slant |publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AmdmQ7BDZDkIsE9JxUn.lv1DubYF?slug=teamreports-2008-nfl-chi&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report |access-date=August 18, 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Carolina Panthers (second stint) (2008–2009)===
Just nine days after the Bears released him, Muhammad signed a two-year contract with his former team, the [[Carolina Panthers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gantt |first=Darin |date=February 27, 2008 |title=Carr gone, Moose official |url=http://community.heraldonline.com/carr_gone_moose_official |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302031041/http://community.heraldonline.com/carr_gone_moose_official |archive-date=March 2, 2008 |website=The Buzz - HeraldOnline.com}}</ref> On September 14, while playing against the [[2008 Chicago Bears season|Bears]], he became the 29th player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2008 |title=Let's All Please Welcome Muhsin to the 10,000 Yard Club, Naturally Against the Bears |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/fanho-lets-all-please-welcome-muhsin-to-the-10000-yard-club-naturally-against-the-bears/182445/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}}</ref> In Week 4, against the [[2008 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]], he had eight receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown in the 24–9 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons - November 23rd, 2008 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200809280car.htm |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> He finished the season with 65 receptions for 923 yards and five touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MuhaMu00/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the 2009 season, Muhammad caught 53 passes for 581 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in 14 games and starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muhsin Muhammad 2009 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MuhaMu00/gamelog/2009/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> After 14 seasons in the NFL, he retired from professional football.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carolina Panthers' Muhsin Muhammad announces retirement |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5271143 |access-date=August 29, 2017 |website=[[ESPN.com]]| date=June 10, 2010 }}</ref> Muhammad, along with defensive end [[Julius Peppers]], was added to the Panthers' Hall of Honor on October 29, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gantt |first=Darin |date=July 10, 2023 |title=Julius Peppers, Muhsin Muhammad join the Hall of Honor |url=https://www.panthers.com/news/julius-peppers-muhsin-muhammad-join-the-hall-of-honor |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=Panthers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>