Tee Higgins talks life off the field, emotions of long-term contract with Bengals
BENGALS ARE GOING TO BE WITHOUT THEIR STAR RECEIVER, TEE HIGGINS TONIGHT. OF COURSE, HE’S IN CONCUSSION PROTOCOL AFTER THAT NASTY INJURY LATE IN THE GAME LAST SUNDAY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THINGS SOUND POSITIVE THERE. HE IS EXPECTED TO BE BACK WEEK 14 AS THE BENGALS GO TO BUFFALO TO TAKE ON THE BILLS, BUT ONLY ON READY TO ROAR. SPORTS DIRECTOR CHARLIE CLIFFORD RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH TEE TO TALK ABOUT LIFE OUTSIDE PAYCOR STADIUM. BRING ME TO MARCH 16TH HANDSHAKE ON THE DEAL. ALL THAT WORK. WHEN DID THAT WEIGHT OF THAT ACHIEVEMENT REALLY HIT YOU? YEAH, MAN. YOU KNOW, ONCE, ONCE SHOOK THE HANDS, YOU KNOW, SIGNED THE DEAL. AND ONCE I GOT HOME, THAT’S WHEN IT HIT ME, YOU KNOW, JUST TURNED OFF ALL MY LIGHTS, MAN. JUST JUST SOAKED IN THE MOMENT, YOU KNOW? AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT FEELING. I TEARED UP A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE JUST ALL THE HARD WORK, YOU KNOW? THEN I CALLED MY MOM AND WAS JUST LIKE, FINALLY. BLITZ 5. NEWS 5. HERE. WHAT’S YOUR MOOD DURING A GAME? CALM, RELAXED. JUST ME. HONESTLY, I’M JUST CALM AND RELAXED, MAN. I DON’T EVER GET TOO AMPED UP. WAS IT EVER ANYTHING DIFFERENT? DID YOU TRY TO. I’M GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT GUY. NEVER BEEN DIFFERENT. EVEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, LIKE EVEN PREGAME. I DON’T LISTEN TO HEADPHONES LIKE MUSIC IN MY HEADPHONES. I JUST LISTEN TO THE OUTSIDE NOISE. HAVE YOU LEARNED TO JUST. THIS IS THIS IS USELESS FOR ME DURING THIS SEASON BECAUSE I’VE NOTICED YOU RARELY POST. I ONLY SEE YOU POSTING AFTER WINS FOR ME. I’M NOT GOING TO POST AFTER A LOSS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE’S NOTHING TO POST ABOUT. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU POST AFTER A LOSS, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE ALL TYPES OF COMMENTS, PEOPLE ON YOUR ON YOUR — JUST SAYING, LIKE, WHY ARE YOU POSTING THIS AND THAT? SO I JUST TRY TO KEEP THE THE NOISE, YOU KNOW, JUST OUT OF MY EAR HOW MUCH IS UP HERE? I’VE NEVER SEEN T HIGGINS HAVE A BAD DAY. IS THAT A SUPERPOWER? HONESTLY, I JUST FEEL LIKE I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING THAT I’VE BEEN THROUGH AS A YOUNG BOY, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WITH MY MOM, YOU KNOW, I TRY TO. I LEARNED TO BOTTLE IN. IT’S NOT GOOD ALL THE TIME, BUT I LEARNED TO BOTTLING, LIKE, MY EMOTIONS AND NOT LASH OUT AT THINGS WHEN I COULD. SO I FEEL LIKE IT’S A IT’S A GIFT AND A CURSE. I CAME OUT A FEW YEARS AGO SAYING THAT I WAS MENTALLY ILL AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD GOT HELP AND IT HELPED ME A LOT, YOU KNOW, HELPED ME TO BE THE MAN I AM TODAY. WHAT WAS STEP ONE ON THAT JOURNEY? REACHING OUT TO SOMEONE AND JUST LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT’S WHAT’S GOING ON WITH ME? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THAT’S THE HARDEST. THAT’S THAT’S ONE OF THE HARDEST STEPS, IS REACHING OUT AND TELLING SOMEBODY YOUR PROBLEMS AND TELLING THEM WHAT’S GOING ON. TEE HIGGINS, ENJOY THE HIGHS, ENJOY T
Tee Higgins talks life off the field, emotions of long-term contract with Bengals
Updated: 4:48 PM EST Nov 28, 2025
March 16, 2025, marked a monumental day in the history of the Cincinnati Bengals, with the team inking long-term extensions with both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.With both star wide receivers in Cincinnati for the long haul, alongside quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals are poised to field one of the most explosive offenses in the league for the foreseeable future.Speaking with WLWT sports director Charlie Clifford, Higgins recounted the moment the deal was finalized and reflected on the work it took to get to that point.See the interview in the video player at the top of the story.“Once we shook the hands, signed the deal and once I got home and that’s when it hit me,” Higgins said. “Just turned off all my lights, soaked in the moment and it was a great feeling, I teared up a little bit.”Higgins says he is calm and relaxed during games, a feat that’s not often easy in such a physical and demanding sport.“I’m just calm and relaxed, I don’t ever get too amped up,” Higgins said.Higgins credits his demeanor and positive attitude to his upbringing and reflected on the challenges he faced growing up.“I came out a few years ago, saying I was mentally ill and I had got help, and it helped me a lot,” Higgins said. “It helped me to be the man I am today.”
CINCINNATI —
March 16, 2025, marked a monumental day in the history of the Cincinnati Bengals, with the team inking long-term extensions with both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
With both star wide receivers in Cincinnati for the long haul, alongside quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals are poised to field one of the most explosive offenses in the league for the foreseeable future.
Speaking with WLWT sports director Charlie Clifford, Higgins recounted the moment the deal was finalized and reflected on the work it took to get to that point.
See the interview in the video player at the top of the story.
“Once we shook the hands, signed the deal and once I got home and that’s when it hit me,” Higgins said. “Just turned off all my lights, soaked in the moment and it was a great feeling, I teared up a little bit.”
Higgins says he is calm and relaxed during games, a feat that’s not often easy in such a physical and demanding sport.
“I’m just calm and relaxed, I don’t ever get too amped up,” Higgins said.
Higgins credits his demeanor and positive attitude to his upbringing and reflected on the challenges he faced growing up.
“I came out a few years ago, saying I was mentally ill and I had got help, and it helped me a lot,” Higgins said. “It helped me to be the man I am today.”