A $115 million contract extension has made Tee Higgins a very happy man as he continues building his legacy alongside Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. The trio has a Super Bowl appearance under their belt and several wildly successful seasons behind them.
Even though the last two seasons didn’t go as planned for the Bengals, they will look to turn things around with plenty more opportunities ahead. But as happy as Higgins is with his extension, his story is far more inspiring for those who have heard it.
Bengals Star Tee Higgins Shares His Struggles, Demons From Early in Life
While he might be a household name today, Higgins comes from humble beginnings. A native of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, he attended Oak Ridge High School before earning a scholarship to Clemson.
However, his journey wasn’t easy. He also had to deal with a challenging situation involving his father. The star wide receiver spoke about it in 2023 and how it impacted him.
“You know, I grew up with, obviously, my father was in my life. But he was in prison for the most part, and he was finally able to get out, finally got to come see me play football. You know, he came to some of my first few NFL games.”
The moment was deeply emotional for Higgins, whose voice choked up as he talked about it. “And man, it was just so, so — it felt like my family was finally coming back together.” His father, Eric Higgins, an outdoorsman and truck driver for DCI, was finally getting to bond with his son.
However, in a heartbreaking twist, Higgins’ father passed away just before his birthday. Reflecting on the moment, he continued, “Obviously, he passed away last year, right before his birthday, right before the [Pittsburgh] Steelers game.”
HEART-WRENCHING: #Bengals star Tee Higgins talked about how hard it was losing his dad after he had just gotten back in his life after spending many years in jail.
“One of the lowest points in my life… I was just so happy to have him back in my life.”
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 17, 2025
Even as his emotions got the better of him, he pushed through, wanting to share his story: “Man, that was probably one of the lowest points in my life because I was just so happy to have him back in my life.”
Higgins shared this deeply personal story on “Mobil 1: Behind the Drive with Tee Higgins” during an “I Am Athlete” interview. That season opener remains unforgettable for Bengals fans, as Higgins took a leave of absence for personal reasons before the game.
In 2024, Higgins earned his way to the most lucrative contract for a No. 2 receiver in the NFL. In 12 games, he produced 911 yards on 73 receptions for an average of 12.5 yards per catch. His 10 touchdowns were a career high.