Mustafah Muhammad
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1973)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mustafah Muhammad
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| number = 31
| position = Defensive back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|10|19}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 180
| high_school =
| college = Fresno State
| undraftedyear =
| pastteams =
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|1998}})
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1999}}–{{NFL Year|2000}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2002}})
| highlights =
- CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award ({{CFL Year|1998}})
- Jackie Parker Trophy ({{CFL Year|1998}})
}}
Mustafah Jaleel{{cite news|last1=Olson|first1=Lisa|title=SPORTS' DIRTY LITTLE SECRET WHY THE SILENCE ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/sports-dirty-secret-silence-domestic-violence-article-1.851824|accessdate=26 December 2016|work=New York Daily News|date=November 14, 1999}} Muhammad (born October 19, 1973, as Steve Wilson) is a former award-winning football player in the Canadian Football League, who later played in the National Football League, and was a high-profile criminal, being convicted of domestic battery.
Playing career
Muhammad played his college football at several schools, including California State University, Fresno, Shasta Junior College and Chaffey Junior College. He took the CFL by storm in 1998, playing 17 games for the B.C. Lions and intercepting a league leading 10 passes. He was an all star and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award. He played the next two seasons (1999 and 2000) with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL, where he played 24 games over two seasons, most notably intercepting one pass and returning it 40 yards for a touchdown. He resurfaced in 2002 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Legal trouble
Muhammad's pregnant wife, Nichole, died on November 7, 1999, losing her baby. It became publicly known that Steve Muhammad had been arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery on his wife on October 28, 10 days before her death. Though cleared of any wrongdoing in her actual death, Muhammad was unable to refute testimony from his six-year-old stepson, and was convicted November 8, 2000, of one count of domestic battery for beating his pregnant wife. "I wanted to stop daddy from hurting my mommy," Eric testified. Judge Evan Goodman sentenced Muhammad to one year in jail, which he suspended, and to one year's probation. He also ordered Muhammad to undergo 12 weeks of domestic violence counselling and to perform 32 hours of community service.
References
{{Reflist}}
- [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/colts-muhammad-convicted-of-domestic-battery-1.197220 Steve Muhammad story on CBC online.]
{{CFL MORs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muhammad, Mustafah}}
Category:African-American Muslims
Category:Players of American football from Riverside County, California
Category:Indianapolis Colts players
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners
Category:Players of American football from Los Angeles
Category:Fresno State Bulldogs football players
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Canadian football defensive backs
Category:Muslims from California
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
{{Canadianfootball-defensiveback-stub}}
{{defensiveback-1970s-stub}}