Tyler Higbee Bio
Tyler Higbee is an American professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 6 in and listed at 253 lb, he has developed into one of the most productive tight ends in Rams history since being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Higbee is a Super Bowl champion and the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches by a tight end. With the retirement of Rob Havenstein in February 2026, Higbee is the longest-tenured player on the Rams’ roster.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Higbee was born on January 1, 1993, in Clearwater, Florida. He grew up in the Tampa Bay area and attended East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs, Florida. At East Lake, Higbee was a two-sport athlete who competed in both football and baseball, though his path to the professional ranks would ultimately run through the gridiron.
A four-year varsity letterman, Higbee lined up at wide receiver for the Eagles and served as a senior team captain. In his final high school season, he caught 42 passes for more than 540 yards and eight touchdowns, was named team MVP, and earned first-team All-Pinellas County honors. Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Higbee’s combination of size, hands, and production made him an intriguing prospect at the next level.
Path to American Football
After high school, Higbee committed to Western Kentucky University to play for the Hilltoppers. He quickly made an impact as a freshman in 2011, taking his first collegiate reception 63 yards for a touchdown in a 31–21 victory over North Texas. Following a redshirt year in 2012, he developed steadily as a sophomore and junior, posting 13 catches for 169 yards and a score in 2013, then 15 catches for 230 yards and four touchdowns in 2014.
Higbee’s senior campaign in 2015 proved to be his breakthrough. He caught 38 passes for 563 yards and eight touchdowns, earned first-team All-Conference USA honors, and helped lead the Hilltoppers to the 2015 Conference USA Championship. A knee injury suffered in the conference title game, however, kept him out of the Miami Beach Bowl and raised questions about his draft stock heading into the pre-draft process.
Tyler Higbee Career
Early Career (2016)
Higbee was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft, becoming the 27th player drafted from Western Kentucky and the highest Hilltoppers pick since 2002. On June 9, 2016, the Rams signed him to a four-year, $2.92 million rookie contract that included a signing bonus of $580,860. He entered training camp behind veterans Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey on the depth chart.
Higbee made his NFL debut in the Rams’ season opener at the San Francisco 49ers, hauling in a two-yard pass from Case Keenum. On December 24, 2016, he caught his first career touchdown on a two-yard pass from Jared Goff in a 22–21 loss to the 49ers. He finished his rookie year with 11 receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown across 16 games, including seven starts.
NFL Breakthrough (2017–2018)
With Lance Kendricks departing in free agency, new head coach Sean McVay named Higbee the starting tight end to open the 2017 season. Higbee started all 16 games and recorded 25 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown, helping the Rams win the NFC West with an 11–5 record. He also made his postseason debut in the Wild Card Round loss to the Atlanta Falcons, catching an 11-yard pass.
In 2018, Higbee again started all 16 games and helped guide the Rams back to the Super Bowl. He caught two touchdown passes from Jared Goff during the regular season, then added two receptions for 30 yards in a Divisional Round win over the Dallas Cowboys. In the NFC Championship Game, he caught four passes for 25 yards, including a one-yard touchdown, and added two more receptions for 18 yards on the Rams’ game-winning drive to set up Greg Zuerlein’s 57-yard field goal against the New Orleans Saints. Higbee started Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots but was held without a catch in a 13–3 loss.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2019–Present)
On September 5, 2019, Higbee signed a four-year, $31 million contract extension that kept him in Los Angeles through the 2023 season. The 2019 campaign marked his arrival as a premier pass-catching tight end, as he posted career highs of 69 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns. He set a personal single-game best with 116 receiving yards against the Seattle Seahawks and recorded four straight 100-yard games to close the year.
Higbee followed with a five-touchdown season in 2020 and a 61-catch, 560-yard season in 2021 that saw him become the Rams’ all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. A knee injury suffered in the 2021 NFC Championship Game kept him out of Super Bowl LVI, but he was a part of the Rams’ world championship after their 23–20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. After signing a two-year extension on September 29, 2023, Higbee tore his ACL and MCL in a Wild Card playoff game against the Detroit Lions, underwent surgery in February 2024, and returned to action in December 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 ft 6 in with long arms, Higbee operates as a classic seam-stretching tight end who can win down the seams, in the red zone, and after the catch. His rapport with quarterback Matthew Stafford has produced some of his most consistent work, and his willingness as a blocker has allowed the Rams to keep him on the field in all personnel groupings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Higbee became a Super Bowl champion with the Rams in Super Bowl LVI, even though he missed the game with a knee injury. He is the Rams’ all-time leader among tight ends in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches, having surpassed franchise marks previously held by Lance Kendricks, Billy Truax, and Damone Johnson.
Tyler Higbee Career Wins
Higbee has been a consistent winner during his time in Los Angeles, including the Rams’ run to Super Bowl LVI and multiple NFC West titles. His 2018 season ended in an NFC championship, and his 2024 and 2025 postseasons both featured deep playoff runs.
Regular Season and Playoff Highlights
As of the 2025 season, Higbee has compiled 386 receptions for 3,949 receiving yards and 27 receiving touchdowns across his NFL career. He set a single-season high with 72 receptions in 2022 and matched his career best of five touchdown catches that same year.
Postseason Achievements
Higbee set postseason highs of nine receptions for 115 yards during the 2021 playoffs. In 2024, he led the Rams with five receptions for 58 yards in the Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings. During the 2025 postseason, he appeared in the Wild Card victory over the Carolina Panthers, the Divisional Round overtime win over the Chicago Bears, and the NFC Championship Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Tyler Higbee Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Tyler’s parents and broader family are limited in available verified sources. What is known is that he grew up in the Clearwater, Florida area, attended East Lake High School in nearby Tarpon Springs, and was a multi-sport athlete in football and baseball during his youth.
Personal Life
Higbee’s personal life has largely been kept out of the public eye, with no verified information available about a spouse, partner, or children in the sources provided for this profile. His professional focus has remained on his role with the Los Angeles Rams.
2025 Season Performance
Tyler Higbee entered 2025 as the Rams’ starting tight end and delivered 190 yards and two touchdowns across the first 10 games of the season. A Week 11 ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks sent him to injured reserve on November 19, 2025, briefly pausing his campaign. He was activated on January 3, 2026, ahead of the Week 18 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
Upon his return, Higbee caught five passes for a team-high 91 yards and a touchdown in a 37–20 victory over the Cardinals, his best statistical performance of the year. He closed the regular season with 25 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns, then contributed in each of the Rams’ three postseason games, including a Divisional Round overtime win over the Chicago Bears and the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks. After contemplating retirement, Higbee signed a two-year contract extension with the Rams on March 5, 2026, reportedly worth $8 million, locking in his place as a franchise cornerstone.
