Chicago Bears rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad has wasted no time making an impression in 2026, and the early production points straight back to defensive backs coach Al Harris.
Through three games, Muhammad has piled up 11 tackles, two pass deflections, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one interception. He’s also given up just five completions on 12 targets for 78 yards, no touchdowns, and a passer rating of 28.5.
The raw numbers say a lot, but the bigger story is how quickly Muhammad has settled in under Harris. Pro Football Focus has Muhammad with an overall grade of 56.7, which ranks 65th out of 99 eligible cornerbacks.
His coverage grade sits at 54.1, good for 66th, and his run-defense grade is 55.4, placing him 72nd. Even with those middle-of-the-pack grades, the rookie has still produced like a player well ahead of schedule.
That’s become a familiar theme for Harris in Chicago. Bears fans already saw it last season with Nahshon Wright, who opened the year as little more than depth and finished with 10 turnovers and his first Pro Bowl selection.
Even with Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon missing most of the regular season, Harris still managed to field a workable cornerback group with Tyrique Stevenson and Wright. The unit wasn’t flawless in coverage, and consistency came and went, but the Bears’ defense kept generating turnovers, finishing with 33.
Harris’ work has also drawn attention beyond Chicago, even if a defensive coordinator job didn’t come immediately. He received some early looks for coordinator openings around the league, but nothing materialized right away. That stood out a bit, especially with coaches like Eric Bieniemy and Declan Doyle landing coordinator jobs after time with the Bears.
Now, Harris may be getting closer to that next step. Muhammad looks like the latest example of what he can do with a cornerback room, and this one is different from the others.
Johnson and Stevenson were already in place when Harris arrived, but Muhammad is the first player he has been able to coach from the start. So far, the results have been strong.
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