Tip Reiman Bio
Tip Reiman Jr. is an American professional football tight end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Born and raised in South Dakota, he played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini before being selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 82nd overall pick. Standing 6 ft 5 in and listed at 271 lb, Reiman entered the league as a developmental prospect with a reputation for blocking and special teams play.
Early Life and Background
Tip Reiman Jr. was born on September 17, 2001, in Rapid City, South Dakota. He grew up in Rapid City and attended St. Thomas More High School there before transferring as a junior to O’Gorman Catholic High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At O’Gorman, he played football as a tight end after appearing at several positions during his early high school years.
As a senior, Reiman helped O’Gorman win the South Dakota state championship game. He also participated in track and field during his high school years. Reiman received athletic scholarship offers from the South Dakota Coyotes and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, but opted instead to walk on at the University of Illinois.
Path to American Football
Reiman joined the Illinois Fighting Illini as a walk-on in 2020 and appeared in all eight games as a true freshman, working primarily on special teams. The following year he earned a scholarship and played 12 games, including three as a starter, recording three receptions for 43 yards.
Over his next two college seasons he developed into a reliable starting tight end and a team leader. He was named a team captain for the 2023 season and earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference recognition each year from 2021 to 2023. Following the 2023 season, Reiman declared for the 2024 NFL draft and was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
Tip Reiman Career
Early Career (2020–2023)
Reiman’s college career at Illinois spanned four seasons from 2020 through 2023. As a sophomore in 2021, he recorded three receptions for 43 yards while gradually earning more responsibility. The 2022 season saw him start all 13 games and finish with 19 receptions for 174 yards and one touchdown.
He returned for the 2023 season as a team captain and started all 12 games, posting 19 receptions for 203 yards and three scores. Across his college career, Reiman built a profile as a dependable blocker and a steady contributor in the passing game, while consistently earning academic honors.
Illinois Fighting Illini Career (2020–2023)
Reiman’s development at Illinois followed a steady upward arc. He went from a special-teams role as a freshman to a scholarship player, then to a full-time starter and captain. His production in the passing game grew each year, while his run and pass blocking remained the foundation of his game.
By his senior season, he was widely viewed as one of the more complete tight end prospects in the 2024 draft class because of his size, blocking, and special teams value. His invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine confirmed his standing among the top tight end prospects that year.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2024–Present)
Reiman was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 82nd overall pick. He entered his rookie season as the Cardinals’ third tight end behind starter Trey McBride and second-stringer Elijah Higgins, and made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. He recorded his first NFL reception in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, a five-yard catch in a 24–23 Cardinals win.
As a rookie, Reiman played in 17 games and started nine, totaling 450 offensive snaps and 189 special teams snaps. He saw extensive usage as a blocker in both pass protection and the run game, and played the second-most snaps of any Cardinals tight end behind Trey McBride. He finished his rookie season with six receptions on seven targets for 37 yards.
Reiman was named the Cardinals’ No. 2 tight end behind Trey McBride entering the 2025 NFL season. He played 34 offensive snaps and recorded one reception for 10 yards in a Week 1 win against the New Orleans Saints. After missing the following game with an injury, he recorded two receptions for eight yards in a Week 3 loss against the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans, Reiman suffered an ankle injury that led to him being placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 6, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reiman’s game is built around his 6 ft 5 in, 271 lb frame and his willingness to do the unglamorous work. He is primarily valued as a blocker, both in-line and from the backfield, where the Cardinals occasionally deploy him in a fullback role. He has shown reliable hands in limited targets and has been a steady contributor on special teams coverage units.
Notable Events and Milestones
Reiman’s signature early moments include helping O’Gorman win a state championship as a high school senior, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors three times at Illinois, and recording his first NFL reception in a one-point Cardinals win over the San Francisco 49ers in 2024. He was also part of a tight end room that occasionally played without a traditional fullback on the roster.
Tip Reiman Career Wins
As a young professional still in his first two NFL seasons, Reiman’s verified win totals are limited to team victories during the games he has appeared in. He has not yet been credited with individual weekly or postseason awards at the NFL level.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Reiman helped O’Gorman Catholic High School win a South Dakota state championship game during his senior season. At Illinois, he was part of a program that posted winning records during several of his college seasons, though specific team win totals are not detailed here. His college honors included repeated Academic All-Big Ten Conference recognition from 2021 to 2023.
Tip Reiman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Tip Reiman Jr.’s immediate family and upbringing centers on his South Dakota roots. He was raised in Rapid City and completed his high school years in Sioux Falls, where he emerged as a Division I prospect.
Personal Life
Reiman has kept his personal life largely private, with no public details about a spouse, partner, or children widely confirmed. His documented background includes his college academic honors, reflecting a focus on education alongside his athletic development.
2025 Season Performance
Reiman entered the 2025 NFL season as the Cardinals’ No. 2 tight end behind Trey McBride. In the Week 1 win against the New Orleans Saints, he played 34 offensive snaps and recorded one reception for 10 yards, suggesting an expanded role in his second professional year.
After missing one game with an injury, he returned to post two receptions for eight yards in a Week 3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. His season was cut short in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans when he suffered an ankle injury, and he was placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 6, 2025.
Through Week 3 of the 2025 season, Reiman had recorded three receptions for 18 yards. His placement on injured reserve ended his 2025 campaign and shifted the Cardinals’ tight end depth chart back toward Higgins and other options behind McBride.
