Chad Muma

Chad Tyler Muma (born August 18, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wyoming and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Early years
Muma grew up in Lone Tree, Colorado. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes while in the seventh grade after losing 30 pounds. He also won homecoming king, Mr. Titan, in 2017. Muma attended Legend High School, where he initially played defensive back. He wore #19 out of respect for his father due to him also playing football. During his junior year, he broke his clavicle bone while playing 7-on-7, after surgery he excelled and played the entire year. He was named second-team Class 5A All-State as senior after finishing the season with 77 tackles and 8 tackles for loss despite missing half of Legend's games due to a seventy-percent torn patella. Muma committed to play college football at Wyoming, where his father and maternal grandfather had played, over offers from Colorado State, Hawaii and Nevada. Chad Muma also played Basketball his junior year. During the 2016-2017 season, he averaged 0.9 points per game, 1.0 rebounds per game, and 0.1 assists per game. Legend went on to be ranked 20th and made the 2017 CHSAA Boys Basketball State Championship Tournament. The team made it to the Sweet 16 before losing to Mountain Vista. Chad Muma continued with athletic by participating in Track and Field from 2015-2017. He performed in a multitude of events: 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter and Long Jump. His fastest time for all events came during his sophomore season where he ran 11.55, 23.32, and 54.18 respectfully. His farthest jump in Long Jump also came from his sophomore season when he jumped 20' 2.00".

College career
Muma played in all 12 of Wyoming's games as a freshman, mostly on special teams. He began to see significant playing time on defense during his sophomore season and finished the year with 51 total tackles. As a junior, Muma led the Cowboys with 71 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks and was named first-team All-Mountain West Conference. For his senior season, he doubled his tackle output to 142, again had 8 tackles for loss, had 1.5 sacks, added 3 interceptions for 45 return yards, and a fumble recovery as well, enroute to another All-Mountain West season. Muma was invited to play in the 2022 Senior Bowl and was named a finalist for the Butkus Award.

Professional career
Muma was drafted in the third round (70th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars reportedly selected Muma after hearing that the Broncos were planning to draft him 75th overall. He was selected using a selection Jacksonville acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. He was the fourth inside linebacker selected in the draft and the second inside linebacker selected by the Jaguars after they drafted Devin Lloyd in the first round. As a rookie, Muma appeared in 16 regular season games and started two. He finished with 1.5 sacks, 47 total tackles, and one pass defended. In his sophomore season, Chad Muma appeared in 17 regular season games and started two. He finished with 15 tackles and two passes defended as a result of the Jaguars decision to permanently place Devin Lloyd as the main inside linebacker.

Personal life
Muma's father, Ty Muma, and his maternal grandfather, Rick Desmarais, also played college football at Wyoming. Chad’s younger sister Payton plays basketball at Gonzaga University. Chad's younger brother Jaxon plays football at the University of Sioux Falls.

Chad Muma got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Alyssa Huey, on May 28, 2023 in Saint Augustine, Florida. Together they own a Goldendoodle named Ollie.

During Chad Muma's childhood, he learned how to play piano. In one specific case, during a school event, Chad Muma performed "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis.

During mid-April 2017, Chad Muma's Subaru Outback was stolen when he left the keys in the car. It was later found by police with his jersey and chest pads still inside.

In multiple short interviews done by the Jacksonville Jaguars media team, it has been revealed that Chad Muma's top song in 2023 was get him back! by Olivia Rodrigo. He also told the media team that he listens to Adele. In a player interview, he revealed his pregame song is "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins.