Age: 26
4th
season in pro football & with Panthers
College: Michigan
State
Height: 6’2” Weight: 220
Prelude:
Muhammad caught
50 passes for 867 yards (17.3 avg.) and three touchdowns in 1995, his last
college season, and was chosen by the Panthers in the second round of the ’96
NFL draft. While hampered by a hamstring injury as a rookie, he showed promise,
catching 25 passes for 407 yards (16.3 avg.) and impressing with his size as
well as speed. Following another injury-plagued season in 1997, Muhammad
started every game in ’98 and broke out with 68 receptions for 941 yards (13.8
avg.) and six TDs.
1999 Season Summary
Appeared in 15
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 96
[3, 1st in NFC]
Most
receptions, game – 11 (for 126 yds.) vs. San Francisco 12/18
Yards – 1253
[7]
Most yards,
game – 151 (on 8 catches) at Washington 10/3
Average gain
– 13.1
TDs – 8 [12,
tied with Az-Zahir Hakim, Kevin Johnson & Keyshawn Johnson]
100-yard
receiving games – 5
Scoring
TDs – 8
Points – 48
Awards & Honors:
Pro Bowl
Panthers went
8-8 to finish second in the NFC West while ranking second in the NFL in passing
yards (4161) and third in touchdowns (50).
Aftermath:
Muhammad led
the NFL with 102 catches in 2000, gaining 1183 yards (11.6 avg.) and scoring
six touchdowns. Injuries and off-field problems caused his production to drop
off significantly in 2001, but there was improvement in 2002 and ’03, and he
had an 85-yard scoring reception in the Super Bowl loss to New England
following the latter season. Muhammad had a big year in 2004, leading the NFL
with 1405 yards and 16 TDs on his 93 pass receptions and receiving consensus
first-team All-NFL honors as well as selection to the Pro Bowl. However, he was
released by the Panthers in the offseason due to contract issues and moved on
to the Chicago Bears in 2005, where with his diminished speed combining with
inconsistency at quarterback, his numbers dropped off. He spent three years
with the Bears before returning to Carolina for his last two seasons in 2008
and ’09. Overall, Muhammad caught 860 passes for 11,438 yards (13.3 avg.) and
62 touchdowns. Of those totals, 696 receptions for 9255 yards and 50 TDs came
with the Panthers. Muhammad was a first-team All-NFL selection once and was
named to two Pro Bowls.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Percentage, Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
