Tee Higgins

Tamaurice 'Tee' Higgins Jr. was born January 18, 1999, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and his upbringing was shaped by resilience and family challenges. His mother Lady Stewart battled addiction when Tee was young — a reality he has addressed publicly and credited with shaping his own deeply disciplined approach to life and football. He was raised primarily by his grandmother Pamela Cooper in Oak Ridge, and his relationship with both his mother, who eventually recovered, and his grandmother remains central to his public identity.

Higgins attended Oak Ridge High School in Tennessee, where he was one of the top basketball recruits in the country as well as a football standout. His basketball-first background gave him the high-pointing ball skills that have defined his professional receiving career. He signed with Clemson and spent three seasons with the Tigers, including the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship team, before declaring for the NFL Draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Higgins 33rd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft — the first pick of the second round — and he immediately paired with Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow to form one of the most productive young offenses in the NFL. He has posted multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons and established himself as one of the premier secondary receivers in the NFL.

Higgins has earned Pro Bowl consideration and has been a key contributor to the Bengals' Super Bowl LVI run. His combination of 6'4" size, contested-catch ability, and red zone dominance has made him one of the most difficult matchups in the league for defensive backs, and his chemistry with Joe Burrow has been central to Cincinnati's sustained offensive success.

His career résumé includes a Super Bowl LVI appearance, multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons, a College Football Playoff National Championship, and status as one of the most productive secondary receivers of his generation. He signed a franchise-tag extension with the Bengals in 2024 that placed him among the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL.

Off the field, Higgins has been open about his mother's addiction recovery and has supported programs focused on family healing and addiction awareness. He has maintained close ties to his Oak Ridge roots and his grandmother, who was a visible presence at Clemson games and remains central to his life. He maintains endorsement partnerships with Nike's Jordan Brand and other brands, and has been active in the Cincinnati community throughout his career.