Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
"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.
— KNBR (@KNBR) August 19, 2024
"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
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.
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?"