Al-Quadin Muhammad Bio
Al-Quadin Muhammad is an American professional football linebacker currently playing in the National Football League (NFL). Born in Irvington, New Jersey, he played college football at the University of Miami before being selected by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 250 pounds, Muhammad has built a career as a defensive front-seven player, contributing as both a defensive end and a linebacker across multiple organizations.
Across his NFL career, Muhammad has suited up for the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Known for his work as an edge rusher and his willingness to contribute on special teams, he has developed into a rotational defender with starting experience. His career has included stops on practice squads, active rosters, and brief stints as a free agent, reflecting the resilience required to stay in the league through multiple cycles.
Early Life and Background
Al-Quadin Muhammad was born on March 28, 1995, in Irvington, New Jersey, a community in the northern part of the state. Growing up in New Jersey, he was introduced to football at a young age and developed his physical skills through local youth programs. His size and athleticism became apparent early, and he quickly drew attention from high school recruiters across the region.
Muhammad attended Paterson Catholic High School in Paterson, New Jersey, but the school closed after his freshman year, prompting a transfer to Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey. At Don Bosco Prep, he was rated as a four-star defensive end and was ranked as the No. 1 NFL prospect in the state of New Jersey. His time at Don Bosco helped him refine his technique as a pass rusher and linebacker, while also giving him the kind of high-level competition that prepared him for a college career at a major program.
Path to the NFL
In 2013, Muhammad committed to the University of Miami, joining the Miami Hurricanes football program. As a freshman in 2013, he appeared in five games and recorded 6 tackles along with 2.0 sacks, showing immediate flashes of disruption off the edge. The following offseason, however, he was suspended for an altercation involving a former roommate following Miami’s spring game, causing him to miss the entire 2014 season.
When he returned in 2015, Muhammad put together his most productive college campaign, playing in 12 games and finishing the year with 54 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks. His 2016 season was cut short when he was suspended and later dismissed from the program for his role in a luxury rental car incident that violated NCAA rules, ending his college career. Despite the off-field setback, his combination of size, length, and pass-rushing ability kept him on NFL radar boards, and the New Orleans Saints selected him in the sixth round, 196th overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Al-Quadin Muhammad Career
Early Career (2017)
Al-Quadin Muhammad began his professional career with the New Orleans Saints in 2017. He debuted in Week 1 of the 2017 regular season against the Minnesota Vikings and went on to make four appearances during his rookie campaign. His production was limited in that first season, finishing with one combined tackle as he adjusted to the speed and complexity of the NFL game.
On September 1, 2018, Muhammad was waived by the Saints as part of the league’s final roster cuts. The release came quickly into his second training camp, signaling a fresh opportunity elsewhere. Within a day, on September 2, 2018, he was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts, opening the next chapter of his career.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2018–2021, 2023)
Muhammad’s first stint with the Indianapolis Colts was a period of transition. Claimed off waivers in September 2018, he was waived on October 4 and re-signed to the team’s practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on October 13. Through the years that followed, he developed into a rotational defensive lineman, contributing on early downs and in pass-rushing situations along the Colts’ defensive front.
In Week 10 of the 2020 season against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football, Muhammad was ejected after punching offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo, an incident that became a memorable, if not defining, moment of his early Colts tenure. He re-signed with the Colts on April 1, 2021, continuing his role with the team into the 2021 season. In 2023, he returned to Indianapolis on a one-year contract, was released on August 29, and re-signed to the practice squad before being suspended for six games without pay by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs on December 6, 2023.
Chicago Bears Era (2022)
On March 20, 2022, Muhammad signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Bears, marking his first major multi-year deal as a free agent. With the Bears, he slotted into a defensive line rotation, providing depth at defensive end and a presence on special teams units. He was released by Chicago on February 21, 2023, closing a one-season tenure with the team.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024)
On August 1, 2024, Muhammad signed with the Dallas Cowboys ahead of training camp. His time in Dallas was brief, however, as he was released on August 28, 2024, during final roster cuts. The short stint reflected the competitive nature of edge-rusher depth charts around the league.
Detroit Lions Era (2024–2025)
On October 7, 2024, Muhammad signed with the Detroit Lions practice squad, eventually being promoted to the active roster on November 9. In 9 appearances with 2 starts for Detroit during the 2024 regular season, he logged 1 pass deflection, 3.0 sacks, and 11 combined tackles, contributing meaningfully to a Lions defense that reached the postseason.
On March 19, 2025, Muhammad re-signed with the Lions, continuing his role as a rotational pass rusher. In Week 14 of the 2025 season, he delivered one of the standout performances of his career, recording three sacks, three tackles, three tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits in a 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys. That performance earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, cementing his value to Detroit’s defense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Al-Quadin Muhammad plays with the build of a traditional edge rusher, using his 6-foot-3 frame, long arms, and 250-pound frame to set the edge against the run. His strengths include first-step quickness, the ability to convert speed to power, and a willingness to play multiple positions along the defensive front. He has developed into a reliable situational pass rusher who can be deployed in obvious passing downs while also holding up against the run on early downs.
Notable Events and Milestones
A signature performance came in Week 14 of the 2025 season, when Muhammad’s three-sack game against the Dallas Cowboys earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week. His six-game suspension in 2023 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy and his 2020 ejection against the Tennessee Titans stand as notable off-field and in-game events that have shaped his career narrative. Reaching 26 career sacks across multiple teams is a milestone that reflects his longevity as a rotational edge defender.
Al-Quadin Muhammad Career Stats
Through the 2025 NFL season, Al-Quadin Muhammad has compiled 193 total tackles, 26 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 pass deflections across his career with the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has shown steady production as a pass rusher, with his 2025 breakout game in Detroit serving as a clear highlight of his statistical portfolio.
Al-Quadin Muhammad Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Detailed public information about Al-Quadin Muhammad’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in Irvington, New Jersey, and developed his football roots in the northern New Jersey area, attending high schools in Paterson and Ramsey before moving on to the University of Miami. Beyond his high school and college background, verified details about his parents, siblings, and extended family have not been widely published.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been one of the most productive stretches of Al-Quadin Muhammad’s NFL career. Re-signed by the Detroit Lions in March 2025, he emerged as a key rotational piece on a defense that remained among the league’s most aggressive pass-rushing units. His role expanded as the season progressed, with increased snaps in obvious passing situations and steady contributions against the run.
The high point of his 2025 campaign came in Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys, where his three-sack, three-tackle-for-loss performance powered a 44-30 win and earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week. That game, combined with consistent pressure and tackle production through the middle of the schedule, helped solidify his standing in Detroit’s defensive line rotation and offered momentum heading into the playoff picture.
