One Chicago Bears position that seems somewhat in flux as the 2026 season approaches is cornerback. On paper, they should be set with Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson. All have starting experience and have played well for stretches. There is one problem. Gordon can’t stay healthy, and Stevenson was benched for most of the second half of last season. Their credibility took a big hit last season. So one would understand if the coaching staff isn’t as comfortable handing them jobs without a second thought. Enter Malik Muhammad.
Usually, teams don’t make a big fuss about 4th round picks. Those are often players with potential but not ready for the big leagues just yet. Most thought the same about the young cornerback from Texas. While his tapes showed a player with plenty of athleticism and instincts, his skinny frame and incomplete fundamentals made it unlikely he would crack the lineup. Yet, according to Herb Howard’s report this week, it sounds like Bears coaches have high expectations for him.
“Coach (Al) Harris continues to be all over Malik Muhammad. He seemed to make a mental error out here, kind of in a group individual session. Coach Harris got all on him. He coaches all his guys hard, but like I said during Rookie Minicamp, he seems very invested in Malik’s development, and what he thinks he could be. Coach is on his ass for every little detail. Good players want that kind of coaching.”
Malik Muhammad is ready and willing.
He said when asked that his goal is to start. He has no plans to sit back and wait his turn. He did the same thing at Texas. The young man is wired to compete. It is a big reason why the Bears drafted him in the first place. He’s not here to learn at the feet of the older players. He is here to challenge them. Competition is the order of the day on this roster. Gordon and Stevenson have no credibility in the eyes of this coaching staff. Last season was a brutal setback for both, and now they’re battling for more than money.
Having Al Harris so invested in his development is ideal news for Malik Muhammad. The man is the unquestioned best cornerbacks coach in football. He’s proven that for several years by developing multiple players into Pro Bowlers. What he did last year with Nahshon Wright, who was cut by the Minnesota Vikings just months before, was masterclass stuff. If Muhammad follows his instructions to the letter, he can play the position at a high level in the NFL. The talent is there.
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A lane is already developing.
Gordon has yet to participate in practice so far this offseason, nursing yet another soft tissue injury. It is why Muhammad has been getting lots of work at the nickel position. Stevenson has at least been on the field, but various reports have shown him getting beaten a few times for big plays. Make no mistake. Muhammad doesn’t need a miracle to crack the starting lineup. All he has to do is learn his lessons, apply them in practice, and then take them to the field in the preseason. If he can do that, the Bears will put the job in his hands.
Don’t forget that this coaching staff didn’t draft Gordon or Stevenson. While both remain talented players, the staff’s view of them isn’t the same as the previous one under Matt Eberflus. There is no loyalty involved with either player. That makes their status even more uncertain. Teams don’t usually draft players in the 4th round with big plans for them, at least not at first. Then again, many experts felt Muhammad went later than he should have. It’s possible the Bears felt the same way.
