Drafted 43rd overall in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft from Michigan State, Muhsin Muhammad joined Charlotte during the team's second year. Known as "Moose" for his formidable size and aggressive playing style, he developed into a top possession receiver and a highly regarded blocking wideout in modern NFL history.

Muhammad brought a running back's physical mindset to the wide receiver position. Operating on the outside, he was renowned for his elite contested-catch radius, using heavy hands and strong body positioning to shield off cornerbacks on intermediate slants and dig routes. Equally vital was his commitment to the dirty work of the offense: Muhammad was widely regarded as one of the league's top run-blocking receivers, regularly cracking down on linebackers and sealing the boundary edges to spring tailbacks like Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster for massive gains.

After a quiet start to his career, Muhammad exploded in 1999, catching 96 passes for 1,253 yards and eight touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He followed that in 2000 by co-leading the NFL with 102 receptions for 1,183 yards, cementing his status as a premier volume receiver.

Muhammad was crucial in Carolina's journey to Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2003. During the title game against New England, he made a memorable 85-yard touchdown catch from Jake Delhomme, marking the longest touchdown reception in Super Bowl history.

His best season came in 2004. With injuries across the offense, Muhammad carried Carolina's passing attack and led the NFL in receiving yards (1,405) and receiving touchdowns (16), catching 93 passes. That transcendent performance earned him First-Team All-Pro honors and his second Pro Bowl invitation.

A contract dispute following his career year led to a three-season stint with the Chicago Bears (2005–2007), during which he helped guide the Bears to an appearance in Super Bowl XLI.

Muhammad returned to Charlotte in 2008, offering veteran leadership with Steve Smith Sr. During that season, he caught 65 passes for 923 yards, contributing to Carolina's 12–4 record. In Week 2, he became the 29th NFL player to exceed 10,000 career receiving yards.

After his final season in 2009, Muhammad retired with 11,438 career receiving yards and 62 touchdowns. Over his 11 seasons with Carolina, he caught 696 passes for 9,255 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns in 155 regular-season games. The franchise inducted Muhammad into the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor in 2023, alongside Julius Peppers.