Malik Mustapha has excellent taste in former defensive players. A lifelong San Francisco 49ers fan, Mustapha wore the jersey of an iconic team figure—hard-hitting safety Ronnie Lott—after Sunday's preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, his first at Levi's Stadium. Although it was a black jersey, a color Lott never wore in a game, for Mustapha, it was a tribute to one of the greatest ever to play his position.
"I got this Ronnie Lott jersey back in June, earlier, a few months ago," Mustapha shared with reporters. "Big fan of his. Obviously, that's the GOAT—49ers legend. I met him another day, just a dream come true, meeting an idol like that.
"It's kind of like a mentality thing, coming into the game, wearing a Ronnie Lott jersey for the first preseason home game of my NFL career. So, I just wanted to go out there with the right mindset to attack the game."
Rookie Malik Mustapha wore his Ronnie Lott jersey to the game today and raved about the 49ers legend.
"Big fan of his. Obviously that's the GOAT... Met him the other day, you know, just a dream come true. Meeting an idol like that." pic.twitter.com/GNnZST013w
— KNBR (@KNBR) August 19, 2024
Mustapha finished the game with five tackles, second only to linebacker Tatum Bethune. The rookie has shown flashes during training camp and preseason, proving he can be a valuable contributor when needed.
When Mustapha met Lott, he was eager to soak up wisdom from the Hall of Famer, admitting he'd watched a lot of Lott's film.
"A guy that has been through a lot and seen the game, and I'm just, being a young guy, just trying to be a sponge, learn from the best," Mustapha said of speaking to the football legend. "So, definitely would love to talk to him more, but that's pretty much it."
Mustapha joked about playing in a different era with different rules than Lott, acknowledging that he'd likely be penalized if he hit as hard as Lott did in his day. But for Mustapha, it's not just Lott's physicality that made him an admirer.
"Just the mindset, just something I just want to carry, and just be able to be consistent and deliver game in and game out," Mustapha remarked.
The rookie is also mindful of the legacy he's continuing and is determined to uphold the tradition of greatness that players like Lott helped establish.
"It's a standard here when you put on these Forty-Niner pads, Forty-Niner helmets," Mustapha added. "You got to this program for a reason. They saw something in you, and it's up to you to uphold the standards, uphold the culture that they've set here for years. And just being part of a dynasty like this is a great feeling. And what am I going to do to help elevate it as much as I can?"
Reflecting on his first game at Levi's Stadium, Mustapha said, "It was surreal, for sure. I probably wasn't as nervous as my first game, but just seeing the fans, the roar coming out the tunnel, walking into the stadium, even, it was just all dreams coming true. And then I was just soaking it in, and then the whistle blew, just ready to play ball."