Malik Turner Bio
Malik Turner is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 203 pounds, he has carved out a journeyman career in professional football, moving between active rosters, practice squads, and a spring league since entering the league in 2018.
Born on January 30, 1996, in Springfield, Illinois, Turner played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini before signing with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. He has since spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL), while also logging brief stints with several other NFL organizations.
Early Life and Background
Turner grew up in Springfield, Illinois, where he attended Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. A multi-sport athlete, he played both football and basketball for the Cyclones and developed into one of the more reliable receiving threats in the Central State Eight Conference during his high school years.
As a sophomore and junior, he earned All-Central State Eight honors, showing the consistency that would later define his college career. His senior year, however, was his breakout. He recorded 69 receptions for 1,378 yards, averaging 19.9 yards per catch, and found the end zone 22 times while helping his team post a 14-0 record and capture an IHSA Class 5A state championship. He was named Central State Eight Conference Player of the Year for his dominant final season.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school as a state champion, Turner accepted a football scholarship from the University of Illinois, joining the Illinois Fighting Illini program. As a true freshman, he appeared in 13 games with 5 starts, registering 25 receptions for 256 yards and one touchdown, including 6 catches for 84 yards against Louisiana Tech University.
By his sophomore year, he had become a featured receiver, starting 10 of 12 games and finishing second on the team with 510 receiving yards to go with three receiving touchdowns. His junior season was his most productive at Illinois, leading the team with 48 receptions, 712 yards, and 6 touchdowns while earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition. Although injuries limited his senior year, he finished his college career ranked ninth in school history with 143 receptions and 1,804 receiving yards, along with 10 receiving touchdowns.
Malik Turner Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
After an unsuccessful tryout at a Green Bay Packers minicamp, Turner signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on July 29, 2018. He was cut at the end of training camp but quickly returned when the Seahawks signed him to their practice squad on September 10, 2018. He was promoted to the active roster on October 31, 2018, and made his NFL debut on November 4, 2018, in a 17-25 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Turner caught his first career pass, a 19-yard reception from quarterback Russell Wilson, in the Seahawks’ 30-27 win over the Carolina Panthers on November 25, 2018. As a rookie, he finished with two catches for 20 yards in six games played. In 2019, he stepped into a larger role after an injury to Tyler Lockett and caught two passes for 35 yards in overtime of a Monday Night Football game against the San Francisco 49ers. He then recorded his first career touchdown on a 33-yard pass from Wilson during a 17-9 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on November 24, 2019.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2020–2021)
After brief stints on the Green Bay Packers roster in August 2020 and a claim by the Dallas Cowboys off waivers in September 2020, Turner found a longer home in Dallas. He initially contributed on special teams while adjusting to the Cowboys’ system, appearing in six games and registering two special teams tackles during the 2020 season.
Re-signed to a one-year contract on March 19, 2021, Turner battled through a turf toe issue and a preseason foot injury before being placed on injured reserve at the start of the season. Once activated on October 2, 2021, he became a key special teams contributor and rotational receiver. His most notable moment came in Week 16 against the Washington Football Team, when he posted three receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown, including a 61-yard catch-and-run on just 13 offensive snaps. He finished the 2021 season with 12 catches for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Journeyman Years (2022–2024)
Turner signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on April 11, 2022, beginning a series of short stays with multiple organizations. He was waived by the 49ers in August 2022, spent time on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad in November 2022, and joined the Houston Texans practice squad in December 2022. In February 2023, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts, but a preseason injury led to a stint on injured reserve and his eventual release.
He returned to the San Francisco 49ers in July 2024, but a placement on injured reserve and an injury settlement ended that first attempt. He rejoined the 49ers practice squad in October 2024 before being released in November, capping a stretch defined by perseverance and constant movement between rosters.
Michigan Panthers and Return to the 49ers (2025)
Looking for a fresh start, Turner signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL) on January 8, 2025. He produced one of the most explosive performances in league history during the 2025 UFL Championship Game, setting a UFL record with 168 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a loss to the DC Defenders.
On August 13, 2025, Turner returned to the NFL, signing with the San Francisco 49ers. He was released as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, but quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad the following day, where he continues to work his way back onto the active roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Turner’s most memorable NFL moment came in Week 16 of the 2021 season, when he turned a limited snap count into a 61-yard catch-and-run touchdown against Washington. His record-setting 168-yard, three-touchdown performance in the 2025 UFL Championship Game stands as the statistical highlight of his professional career.
Malik Turner Career Wins
As a wide receiver, Malik Turner’s career highlights are measured less in championship trophies and more in key contributions, record-setting performances, and roster resilience. His most significant statistical achievement came in the 2025 UFL Championship Game, where his 168 receiving yards and three touchdowns set a league record.
NFL Highlights
Across his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and other organizations, Turner’s most notable plays include his first career touchdown catch from Russell Wilson against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019 and his 61-yard touchdown reception against Washington in 2021. While he has not been credited with major postseason receiving records, his overtime catches in the 2019 Monday Night Football game against the 49ers remain a defining moment of his Seahawks tenure.
Other Performances
Outside the NFL, Turner’s 2025 UFL Championship Game performance stands out as a career-defining display of big-play ability. His 22-touchdown senior season at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School and his 1,378 receiving yards that year also remain among the most productive high school seasons in Illinois Class 5A history.
Malik Turner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Malik Turner’s family background is limited. He was raised in Springfield, Illinois, and is an American by nationality, with his football roots firmly tied to his hometown community and the Sacred Heart-Griffin High School program.
Personal Life
Verified details about Turner’s personal life are not publicly available. He has not publicly disclosed a spouse or children, and his off-field life has remained largely outside the spotlight as he has focused on maintaining his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Turner’s 2025 season has been defined by transition and standout production. His early-year move to the Michigan Panthers of the UFL gave him a chance to serve as a primary receiver, and he delivered with a UFL Championship Game-record 168 receiving yards and three touchdowns. That performance reaffirmed his big-play ability and helped him draw renewed NFL interest during the summer.
Following the conclusion of his UFL contract, Turner signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 13, 2025, but was released during final roster cuts on August 26. He rejoined the 49ers practice squad the next day, positioning himself for a potential elevation to the active roster as the regular season unfolds.
Looking ahead, Turner’s path to the 49ers’ active roster will depend on his production in practice and his ability to contribute on special teams. Given his track record of perseverance, his familiarity with the 49ers’ system from prior stints, and his recent UFL success, he remains a candidate to provide depth at wide receiver and on special teams units throughout the 2025 NFL season.