The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Malik Muhammad selected in fourth round of NFL Draft by Chicago Bears
04.25.2026 | Football
The defensive back went 124th overall in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Chicago, Ill. – Texas defensive back Malik Muhammad was taken 124th overall in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears on Saturday.
Muhammad becomes the fourth Texas defensive back selected in the last three drafts and marks the fifth time in the last seven years that a Longhorn DB has been drafted. He is the 20th Texas DB selected in the last 21 NFL Drafts and 28th since the draft moved to seven rounds in 1994. His selection gives the Longhorns multiple draft picks for the fourth-straight year and the eighth time in the last nine.
It is the second time in the last four years a Longhorn has been drafted by the Bears after the organization chose RB Roschon Johnson in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. Prior to that, it had been since 2009 when Chicago selected defensive end Henry Melton in the fourth round. The Bears last chose a cornerback from Texas in 2004 when Nathan Vasher was selected, also in the fourth round.
"Malik's a very savvy football player," head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He was a steady, reliable player for us who made an immediate impact as a freshman and put in the work to really master his craft at cornerback. He's tough, he's instinctive, he's a very competitive football player, and a guy that thrives on the one-on-one challenges that come with his position. He's got a very high football IQ, which is going to allow him to play in multiple systems and will be really beneficial to the Bears."
Muhammad played in 41 games with 29 starts over his three-year Texas career, recording 97 total tackles, including 76 solo stops, along with three interceptions, 19 passes defended, one sack and 3.5 tackles for loss while on the Forty Acres. During that time, he helped Texas to a 35-8 record, back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinals appearances in 2023 and 2024, an SEC Championship Game appearance and the league's best regular season record in 2024, and the Big 12 Championship in 2023.
A 2025 All-SEC Coaches' Second Team selection, Muhammad started 11 games last season, totaling 30 tackles (23 solo), two interceptions, four pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry. The DeSoto, Texas, native earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors following Texas' win over No. 6 Oklahoma on Oct. 11. He recorded two interceptions, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the victory, becoming the first Longhorn since 2016 to post multiple interceptions against the Sooners. He added five solo tackles, a sack and a pass breakup in a road win at Kentucky on Oct. 18. Muhammad posted five tackles at No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 15 and closed the regular season with four tackles (three solo) against No. 3 Texas A&M.
Muhammad started all 16 games as a sophomore in 2024, helping Texas advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Longhorns finished 13-3, reached the SEC Championship Game and earned a No. 3 final ranking. He recorded 36 tackles (32 solo), one tackle for loss and career-high eight pass breakups during the season. That included being responsible for five solo tackles in the CFP First Round against Clemson. He followed that up with three tackles (two solo) and tied career-high in pass break-ups with two in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl versus Arizona State.
As a true freshman in 2023, Muhammad appeared in 14 games with two starts, helping Texas win the Big 12 Championship and reach the CFP semifinals, finishing with a 12-2 record and No. 3 ranking. He totaled 31 tackles (21 solo), one interception and four pass breakups, while also returning a blocked punt for a touchdown against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. Muhammad made his first career start against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game, finishing with four solo tackles and one pass breakup. He also started against Washington in the Sugar Bowl, recording three tackles (two solo).
Malik Muhammad quotes
On the draft process and what he brings to the Bears:
The draft process, it's stressful, because you just never know what can happen in the draft as you can see. But what I bring to the Bears, I'm bringing everything, man. I'm bringing instincts, IQ, a technician, a communicator, a great teammate, and great guy in the locker room.
On how much contact he had with the Bears:
I only had a Zoom and I talked to them at the combine. There wasn't too much communication, but I did have some type of communication.
On his familiarity with secondary coach Al Harris:
I'm super familiar. My DC in high school, actually, knows him and talked about him a lot. And then, like, just knowing his history, the corners he's coached before, how he played the game, also. So, yeah, I know I got a great coach. That's what I can say. I know I'm coming into a great situation.
On the type of cornerback he is:
I can play inside and I can play nickel, also. I can play multiple coverages. I can play man, I can play zone, pattern match, true zone, I can blitz. Like, I feel like they're getting a well-rounded corner.
On how much he knows about the Bears and if any players have reached out to him yet:
I know a little bit, actually Peanut Tillman was like my chaperone at the combine. So, we talked a little bit. He was giving me some tips on how he used to punch the ball out and how he used to prepare for games and things like that.
WHAT THYEY'RE SAYING
Malik is a Chicago Bear🤘@Returnof7 x @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/eQvnRhfB5t
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 25, 2026
Welcome to the NFL, Manny 🤘@Returnof7 x @ChicagoBears
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 25, 2026
📺 NFLDraft on NFL Network/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/geo835w7m4
Horns up, 🐻⬇️
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 25, 2026
Welcome to Chicago, Malik! pic.twitter.com/qVEUpoCux2
Let's get it, @Returnof7 🫡 pic.twitter.com/l4QNZLU7QN
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 25, 2026
Don't mess with Texas 😤 pic.twitter.com/9D160zw277
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 25, 2026
