Tee Higgins discusses ending playoff drought, fashion, and Bengals prolific offense

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 7: Tee Higgins #5 of the Cincinnati Bengals on the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. | Getty Images Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He caught a career-high 11 touchdowns and was named a Pro Bowler for the first time. Now, the soft-spoken star is venturing into the world of fashion. Higgins partnered with Express to help roll out their newest line of fall pieces, and he sat down with SB Nation to discuss this new journey, as well as what is in store for him and the Bengals in 2026. Jarrett Bailey: What’s going on, man, how are you? Tee Higgins: I’m good, man. Blessed. JB: Glad to hear it. Tell me about how the whole deal with Express came together. I’m going to take a small guess and say that either Joe Burrow or Ja’Marr Chase played some part in it. TH: Nah, obviously those guys with their fashion and whatnot caught my eye, but they go a little above and beyond. I’m more of a simple guy. JB: How did the entire line come to be? TH: I was looking for a style for myself. Something simple but also good for me. Then Express came and they wanted to do something, which was a no-brainer for me because I was already looking at their website for clothes, which was pretty cool and made it easy. JB: Let’s talk football, how was camp and everything throughout the summer? TH: It’s been good. This camp has probably been one of the hardest defense wise because they’ve been giving us looks we haven’t seen in the past and they’ve been playing their butts off with new guys up front. So it’s helping the back seven a lot. JB: Is it weird being the only team in the division with a returning head coach? TH: We are? JB: Yeah, man, Zac is the only head coach in the division returning. Mike T isn’t in Pittsburgh anymore, Harbaugh left Baltimore, and Todd Monken is in Cleveland now. TH: (laughs) That’s actually crazy. JB: Yeah, man, the team in the division with the most continuity is your Bengals. How has Joe looked? I know last year was frustrating just because of the toe injury and him missing most of the season. How’s it ben getting that chemistry rekindled? Does it take long to get back on the same page? TH: No, not really. We’ve been playing with each other going on seven years now. So I feel like we’ve got a good sense of ho each other plays the game. I’ve got a good sense of where he’s going to put the ball in certain situations and he knows what type of routes I run. So I feel like the connection is not hard to get back. Me, Joe, Ja’Marr – we’re back. JB: I feel like you and Ja’Marr kind of started the trend of teams wanting to find that dynamic duo of receivers. We saw it in Philly for a bit with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. Now in Dallas with George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, but I think you guys were the standard bearer for that. Going on another year as teammates, what makes you guys still the top duo at the position? TH: We’re unselfish. We don’t care who eats in that sense. And at the end of the day, we just want to win. And we’re really good friends, and I feel like that also matters. JB: You brought up the defense, too, and you’ve been giving them a lot of love. Dexter Lawrence comes in via trade. How do you think that helps the offensive line get prepared for the really good units that you guys are going to see? TH: Yeah, they’re going up agains this guy every single day in practice. And I mean, he’s maybe the best defensive tackle in football so it’s just giving them work every day, preparing for when we do come across another great d-tackle or a great defensive line. JB: Secondary wise, the unit you guys have with Dax Hill and D.J. Turner. Bryan Cook, a veteran who comes in on the back end. Feels like it’s an underrated group. You go up against them every day, what can you say about their development? TH: I feel like they’ve improved tremendously. We’re adding Bryan Cook, and then D.J. coming back and he’s looking better than ever. Dax is looking good. Jordan Battle has been one of those guys that’s been stepping up into that leadership role on the defense. And then I’ve got to give praise to my guy DJ Ivey. He didn’t get a lot of playing time last year, but he’s been getting a lot of run, he’s been on me a lot, and he’s been making a lot of plays. I can’t let him make too many more, but that guy? He’s been one of those guys that is really coming into his own and really could be a key player for us this year. JB: Is there a guy on offense who may not be a household name, but you think could be a big difference-maker this year? TH: I’m thinking a few of our young guys at receiver. Colbie Young and Dohnte Meyers. Those are guys that have really been coming into their own and standing out from other guys. JB: What are the overarching goals for Tee Higgins in 2026? TH: I made Pro Bowl last year, but I want to get in on the first ballot. Obviously, that 1,000-yard mark is always the goal. Team-wise, man, it’s all about that Super Bowl. It’s been a long time since we’ve been there in 2021. I got that taste, man. Now I just want to win it all. JB: Do you get tired of hearing all the outside noise about the playoff drought and missing the postseason for the last number of years? TH: For sure. The outside noise is annoying, but we’ve just gotta lock in as a team and take it one by one, one game at a time so we can get rid of that narrative. JB: Alright, man, good luck this season, appreciate your time. TH: Appreciate you, brother. Express’ Fall 2026 collection introduces the new Y2K Wash Jean, featuring innovative overdye finishes that give nostalgic washes a contemporary update. Tee also wears the brand’s 24/7 Comfort-Waist Chino, Modern Tech Suiting, elevated sweater polos and premium tees, highlighting a versatile wardrobe designed to move seamlessly from travel and work to game day and nights out. Shop Tee Higgins’ look now at Express.com

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