After graduating from high school, Muhammad played at Michigan State University. He enjoyed a breakout season in 1995 under coach Nick Saban with 50 catches for 867 yards and 3 touchdowns while playing with quarterback Tony Banks and wide receiver Derrick Mason.

The Carolina Panthers selected Muhammad in the 1996 NFL Draft’s second round with the 43rd overall pick. After two mediocre seasons, Muhammad earned a starting role in 1998 and led the Panthers with 68 receptions, six touchdowns, and almost 1,000 yards.

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. His 102 receptions during the 2000 season tied for the NFL lead. Muhammad averaged over 1,000 yards each season from 1998 to 2000.

The Carolina Panthers presented Muhammad with their “Man of the Year” award in 1999 for his charity and volunteer work.

During the 2002 and 2003 off-season, Muhammad became a color commentator for NFL Europe on behalf of Fox television. He also was a post-season correspondent for NFL Network in 2004 and has worked as a color commentator for the Big Ten Network

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); and was arrested in 2003 on misdemeanor drug and weapon offenses.

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. Hours after his release, the Chicago Bears offered the 32-year-old a six-year contract, and Muhammad left Charlotte for Chicago.

Muhammad won a Chicago Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement for Sports Programs for his segment, Hanging with the Moose, which aired on Comcast SportsNet’s “SportsNite” in 2005.

Muhammad’s statistics improved with Rex Grossman at quarterback in the 2006 season. He had his first one hundred-yard day with the Bears in their season opener against the Green Bay Packers, and a second against the Minnesota Vikings during Week 3. 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. Muhammad finished the regular season as the team’s leading wide receiver for the second consecutive time.

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. Before the 2006 season, he revealed he had played through the 2005 season with a broken hand.

Muhammad had a down year in 2007, and the Bears released him on February 18, 2008.

Despite his father’s conversion to Islam, Muhammad is a Christian. He is married to Christa Muhammad. The couple have four daughters and two sons: (oldest to youngest) Jordan, Chase, Journey, Muhsin III, Maddon, and Kennedy. The family adopted Maddon and Journey from Ethiopia in 2007. Jordan is a member of the women’s basketball team at Princeton University. Chase is a member of the women’s basketball team at Johnson & Wales University Charlotte.

On February 28, 2007, Muhammad’s high school alma mater gave him a special award for donating $50,000 worth of equipment to school’s fitness center, which was renamed in his honor.

In the 2009 season, Muhammad caught 53 passes for 581 yards and a touchdown. After 14 seasons in the NFL, he retired from professional football.