Professional athletes, like anyone else, face personal struggles and mental health challenges beyond their careers. For Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, those battles were especially tough during his rookie year.
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In a candid appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Higgins opened up about the mental toll he experienced early in his NFL journey. He admitted to questioning whether he even belonged in the league, saying he had “a lot bottled up” in his mind. Recognizing he needed support, Higgins reached out for help, and it made all the difference.
“Now I’m mentally there,” he said, reflecting on how far he’s come.
Higgins also offered heartfelt advice to others dealing with their own mental health challenges during an interview on The Sitdown with Malik Wright. His message was simple but powerful: tackle each hurdle head-on and “talk to someone” —anyone.
“I just try to beat every challenge that I go through,” Higgins said. “That would be my advice to those guys because it could get very difficult, and you can get in a dark place, and that’s where I was at and I was able to talk to somebody. Just being able to talk to somebody, it could be you, it could be Joey, it don’t matter, someone can lift up your spirits.”
Back on the gridiron, Tee Higgins is set to return this season with renewed focus—and a brand-new contract extension worth $115 million over four years. After a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw the Bengals finish 9-8 and land third in the AFC North, both Higgins and the team are looking to bounce back in a big way.
During the closing moments of The Sitdown with Malik Wright, Higgins was asked what message he had for Bengals fans heading into the new season. His response was clear and confident: he’s determined to start strong and set the tone early. With a fresh mindset and a healthy roster, Higgins is ready to help lead the charge in Cincinnati’s redemption run.
“We got something in store this year,” Higgins said. “We definitely gone come on this year strong, we do not plan on starting, we definitely plan on starting fast this year and making ya’ll proud.”
To make a serious Super Bowl run this season, Higgins and the Bengals will need to strengthen the bond that’s been the foundation of their success—a brotherhood Higgins says defines the team.
A big part of that chemistry lies in his connection with quarterback Joe Burrow. Since entering the league, Burrow has thrived with both Higgins and fellow wide out Ja’Marr Chase. When asked what it’s like to play alongside Burrow, Higgins shared that while the star QB isn’t the most vocal leader, he leads in his own way.
That kind of trust and communication off the field is just as crucial as their timing on it. For the Bengals to reach their ultimate goal—a Super Bowl title—they’ll need to continue building on that brotherhood and turn their tight-knit connection into championship-level execution.
