Malik Turner (born January 30, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini, and was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. He has also played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL).
Turner attended Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, where he played football and basketball. He received All-Central State Eight honors as a sophomore and junior.
As a senior, he tallied 69 receptions for 1,378 yards (19.9-yard avg.) and 22 touchdowns, while contributing to a 14-0 record and an IHSA Class 5A state championship. He received Central State Eight Conference Player of the Year honors.
Turner accepted a football scholarship from the University of Illinois. As a true freshman, he appeared in 13 games with 5 starts at wide receiver. He registered 25 receptions for 256 yards and one touchdown. He had 6 receptions for 84 yards against Louisiana Tech University.
As a sophomore, he appeared in 12 games with 10 starts. He posted 39 receptions for 510 yards (second on the team) and 3 receiving touchdowns (tied for the team lead). He had 11 catches for 126 yards against the University of Minnesota.
As a junior, he started 11 games and missed one contest with an injury. He led the team with 48 receptions, 712 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. He had 11 receptions and 164 yards against Northwestern University. He made 9 receptions for 107 yards against Western Michigan University. He was named honorable-mention All-Big Ten.
As a senior, he started 9 out of 10 games. He missed 2 games with an injury. He collected 31 receptions (tied for the team lead), 326 receiving yards (second on the team) and 2 touchdowns.
He finished his college career with 143 receptions (ninth in school history), 1,804 receiving yards (ninth in school history) and 10 receiving touchdowns.
After an unsuccessful tryout at a minicamp with the Green Bay Packers, Turner was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on July 29, 2018. He was cut by the Seahawks at the end of training camp but was re-signed by the team to their practice squad on September 10. Turner was promoted to the Seahawks' active roster on October 31. Turner made his NFL debut on November 4 in a 17âÂÂ25 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Turner caught his first career pass, a 19-yard reception from Russell Wilson, in the Seahawks' 30âÂÂ27 win over the Carolina Panthers on November 25. He was waived on December 22, and re-signed to the practice squad and was subsequently promoted back to the active roster on January 1, 2019. In his rookie season, Turner caught two passes for 20 yards in six games played.
In a Monday Night Football game on November 11, 2019 against the San Francisco 49ers, after an injury to Tyler Lockett, Turner caught two passes for 35 yards, both in overtime. Turner caught a 33-yard pass from Wilson for his first career touchdown on November 24, in a 17âÂÂ9 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
During the team's 2019 Divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers, Turner dropped a critical catch while wide open.
On April 14, 2020, after originally receiving an exclusive-rights free agent tender, the Seahawks rescinded the tender, making Turner a free agent.
On August 12, 2020, Turner signed with the Green Bay Packers. He was waived by the Packers on September 5.
On September 6, 2020, Turner was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys, to play on the special teams units, helping to offset the loss of wide receiver Ventell Bryant to a knee injury. He played in the first four games of the season, before being declared inactive in the next 12 contests. He appeared in six games and registered two special teams tackles.
On March 19, 2021, Turner was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Cowboys. He was having problems with a turf toe in training camp and suffered a foot injury in the last preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On September 2, he was placed on injured reserve to start the season. He was activated on October 2. Turner served as a backup during the season, with his most notable performance coming in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, where he almost made NFL history, by just missing a blocked punt in the third quarter (it didn't count because the Cowboys touched the ball after it crossed the line of scrimmage), that would've made him the first player ever to record two touchdown receptions and a blocked punt in a single-game. In Week 16 against the Washington Football Team, he had three receptions (including a 61-yard catch-and-run) for 82 yards and a touchdown, after playing just 13 offensive snaps. Turner finished the season with 12 receptions for 149 yards, three touchdowns, and one special teams tackle.
On April 11, 2022, the San Francisco 49ers signed Turner to a one-year contract. He was waived on August 30, and was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. Turner was released by San Francisco on November 1.
On November 4, 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Turner to their practice squad. He was released on December 20.
On December 23, 2022, Turner was signed to the Houston Texans' practice squad.
On February 24, 2023, Turner signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He was waived/injured on August 18, and placed on injured reserve.
On July 25, 2024, Turner signed with the San Francisco 49ers, but was placed on injured reserve on August 6 and was released two days later with an injury settlement. On October 23, Turner signed with the 49ers' practice squad. He was released by San Francisco on November 6.
On January 8, 2025, Turner signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). In the 2025 UFL Championship Game, Turner would set a UFL record with 168 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the loss to the DC Defenders. His contract was terminated on August 12, in order to allow him to sign with an NFL team.
On August 13, 2025, Turner signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. On January 20, 2026, Turner signed a reserve/futures contract with San Francisco.