Tyler Higbee Bio
Tyler Higbee is an American professional football tight end who has spent his entire NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams since being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 253 pounds, Higbee has developed into one of the most reliable receiving threats at his position in the league. He played college football for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, where he established himself as a productive pass-catcher before beginning his professional career in Los Angeles. With the retirement of Rob Havenstein in February 2026, Higbee became the longest-tenured player on the Rams roster.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Higbee was born on January 1, 1993, in Clearwater, Florida. He attended East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where he excelled as a two-sport athlete, competing in both football and baseball. Higbee was a four-year varsity letterman, playing as a wide receiver for the East Lake Eagles football team. As a senior, he served as team captain and caught 42 passes for over 540 yards and eight touchdowns, earning team MVP honors and first-team All-Pinellas County recognition.
Path to the NFL
Despite being considered a two-star recruit by Rivals.com coming out of high school, Higbee accepted a scholarship to play at Western Kentucky University. He arrived on campus in 2011 and made an immediate impact, recording his first career collegiate reception for a 63-yard touchdown in a victory over North Texas. After redshirting the 2012 season due to injury, he returned to form in 2013 and 2014 with increasing production. His senior season in 2015 proved to be his best, as he caught 38 passes for 563 yards and eight touchdowns while helping lead the Hilltoppers to the Conference USA Championship. He aggravated a knee injury during the conference title game and missed the Miami Beach Bowl, but his strong season earned him recognition as one of the best tight end prospects in college football.
Tyler Higbee Career
Rookie Season and Early Development (2016)
The Los Angeles Rams selected Tyler Higbee in the fourth round with the 110th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was the highest-drafted player from Western Kentucky since 2002 and signed a four-year, $2.92 million rookie contract in June 2016. Throughout training camp, Higbee competed for the starting tight end job against several players, including Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey. Head coach Jeff Fisher named him the third tight end on the depth chart behind the veterans to begin the season.
Higbee made his NFL debut and first professional start in the Rams season-opener against the San Francisco 49ers. He caught one pass for two yards in that game and continued to see limited playing time throughout his rookie season. His first NFL touchdown came on December 24, 2016, when he caught a two-yard pass from rookie quarterback Jared Goff in a game against the 49ers. Higbee finished his rookie year with 11 receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown in 16 games with seven starts.
Sean McVay Era Breakthrough (2017–2019)
The arrival of head coach Sean McVay in 2017 transformed the Rams offense and Higbee’s career trajectory. McVay named Higbee the starting tight end to begin the season, and he responded with his best statistical season to that point. He started all 16 games and caught 25 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown. The Rams finished 11-5 and made the playoffs, with Higbee starting his first NFL playoff game in the Wild Card Round against the Atlanta Falcons.
In 2018, Higbee again started all 16 games, catching 24 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He had a career-high six receptions in a high-scoring victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. His most significant contributions came in the playoffs, where he played a crucial role in the Rams run to Super Bowl LIII. In the NFC Championship against the New Orleans Saints, he caught four passes for 25 yards, including a one-yard touchdown, and added two catches for 18 yards on the game-winning drive in overtime. Though the Rams lost to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, the experience set the foundation for future success.
The 2019 season marked Higbee’s breakout year statistically. He signed a four-year, $31 million contract extension in September and went on to post career highs with 69 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns. He had four consecutive 100-yard receiving games in December, including a 116-yard performance against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football and a 12-catch, 111-yard game against the Dallas Cowboys. Though the Rams missed the playoffs that season, Higbee had established himself as a premier receiving option at tight end.
Championship and Record-Breaking Years (2020–2022)
The 2020 season saw Higbee catch 44 passes for 521 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, including a three-touchdown performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. In 2021, he totaled 61 receptions for 560 yards and five touchdowns while becoming the Rams all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards by a tight end, surpassing marks set by Lance Kendricks and Billy Truax. During the playoffs, he set new postseason highs with nine receptions for 115 yards before suffering a knee injury in the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers. Though placed on injured reserve before Super Bowl LVI, Higbee earned a championship ring when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.
The 2022 season proved to be Higbee’s most prolific as a professional. He started all 17 games and set a new single-season career high with 72 receptions, including a 10-catch performance against the 49ers in Week 4. On Christmas Day, he became the franchise all-time leader in touchdown receptions for a tight end, breaking Damone Johnson’s record of 18 with his second touchdown catch in a victory over the Denver Broncos. He also surpassed 3,000 career receiving yards that season and recorded his 300th career reception in Week 17. Higbee finished 2022 with 620 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Recent Seasons and Recovery (2023–2025)
Higbee signed a two-year contract extension in September 2023 and started 15 games, catching 47 passes for 495 yards and two touchdowns. His season ended tragically in the Wild Card Playoff game against the Detroit Lions when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL while attempting to catch a pass in the fourth quarter. He underwent surgery to repair the ligaments in late February 2024.
Higbee began the 2024 season on the reserve/PUP list while recovering from his knee injury and was activated on December 17. In his first game back, he caught one pass for 11 yards and scored a touchdown in a victory over the New York Jets. He finished the regular season with eight receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns in three starts. The playoffs saw Higbee lead the team with five receptions for 58 yards in the Wild Card victory over the Minnesota Vikings before suffering a chest injury that forced him from the game. He returned to catch seven passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in the Divisional Playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tyler Higbee Career Wins
Tyler Higbee has accumulated impressive statistics over his career with the Rams, establishing himself among the franchise’s all-time leaders at his position. His consistency and reliability have made him a key component of the Rams passing game under multiple offensive coordinators and quarterbacks.
Los Angeles Rams Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Higbee has recorded 386 career receptions for 3,949 receiving yards and 27 receiving touchdowns. He became the Rams all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards by a tight end during the 2021 season, surpassing previous franchise standards. His 27 career touchdown receptions also make him the franchise’s all-time leader at the position. Higbee’s most productive season came in 2022 when he set single-season career highs with 72 receptions and started all 17 games. His four consecutive 100-yard receiving games in 2019 remain a testament to his ability to dominate over an extended stretch. Though he did not play in Super Bowl LVI due to injury, his contributions during the regular season helped the Rams secure the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
Other Notable Performances
Beyond his regular-season accomplishments, Higbee has delivered numerous clutch performances in playoff games. His overtime catches in the 2018 NFC Championship against the Saints helped seal the Rams trip to the Super Bowl. In the 2024 Wild Card game against the Vikings, his first-quarter production set up the Rams first score and established the game’s early momentum. His consistent ability to perform in high-pressure situations has made him a trusted target for quarterbacks Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford throughout his career.
Tyler Higbee Family
Family Background
Limited verified information is available regarding Tyler Higbee’s family background. He has maintained relative privacy regarding his personal family life, and no public verified details about his parents, siblings, or extended family have been confirmed through the available sources.
Personal Life
Tyler Higbee has been a mainstay in the Los Angeles community since joining the Rams in 2016. His longevity with a single franchise is relatively rare in professional football and speaks to his value as both a player and teammate. When not on the field, Higbee has been active in the Los Angeles area, though specific details about his personal interests and activities outside of football remain private.
2025 Season Performance
Tyler Higbee began the 2025 season as the Los Angeles Rams starting tight end, recording 190 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the first ten games. His production showed his continued ability to contribute as a receiving threat despite the team undergoing changes around him. However, his season hit a setback when he suffered an ankle injury during Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks, resulting in his placement on injured reserve on November 19, 2025.
Higbee made a dramatic return ahead of the Rams Week 18 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, being activated on January 3, 2026. In his return to the lineup, he caught five passes for a team-high 91 yards and a touchdown in the Rams 37-20 victory, with all three statistics representing single-game highs for his season. He finished the 2025 campaign with 25 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns across ten games.
The playoffs saw Higbee continue his role as a reliable target. In the Wild Card victory over the Carolina Panthers, he caught two passes for 45 yards in the Rams 34-31 win. Against the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round, his 27-yard reception in the second quarter helped set up a field goal in the Rams 20-17 overtime victory. His season concluded with one catch for 12 yards in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks, a 31-27 loss that ended the Rams playoff run.