As the NFL Draft approaches, the Carolina Panthers can only hope to hit a second-round home run like they did with Muhsin Muhammad.

The Panthers hold two high second-round picks — the 33rd and 39th overall — in the draft that starts April 25. In 1996, Muhammad was a promising wide receiver out of Michigan State that Carolina nabbed with the 43rd overall pick.

“Moose,” as most everyone calls him, went on to play 14 NFL seasons, including 11 with Carolina, and was known for his physicality, great hands and knack for making the biggest plays in the biggest games, He still owns the Super Bowl record for longest touchdown catch, at 85 yards against New England in the 2003 postseason.

Now 50 years old, Muhammad and his wife Christa have raised their six kids in the Charlotte area, and those kids have produced numerous college diplomas and athletic accolades. The Panthers, meanwhile, inducted Muhammad into the team’s Hall of Honor in 2023, and his name is now displayed at the top of Bank of America Stadium.

We met Muhammad at his office in Charlotte for his “Sports Legends” interview. He talked about shushing the crowd in Philly, his thoughts on the 2024 Panthers and Nick Saban’s viral comments about Moose that are still making the rounds on social media a decade later.

Sports Legends of the Carolinas is hosted by Scott Fowler. It's produced by Loumay Alesali, Jeff Siner and Kata Stevens. For lots more on the show, visit https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sportslegends.

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