Elijah Higgins Bio
Elijah Higgins (born October 27, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 245 pounds, he plays a versatile role that includes inline tight end, slot receiver, and occasional fullback duties. After developing at Stanford University, Higgins entered the league in 2023 and quickly established himself as a dependable depth piece and special teams contributor for the Cardinals.
Originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins, Higgins transitioned to Arizona early in his rookie season and has since grown into a meaningful part of the Cardinals’ offensive plans. His combination of size, route-running polish, and blocking toughness has made him a trusted option for the coaching staff.
Early Life and Background
Elijah Higgins was born in Tampa, Florida, on October 27, 2000, and later relocated to Texas during his formative years. He attended Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, where he developed into one of the more highly regarded tight end prospects in the state. During his senior season, Higgins was selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game, a showcase that features many of the top high school football players in the country.
Rated as a four-star recruit coming out of high school, Higgins drew attention from college programs across the country. His combination of size, athleticism, and receiving skills led him to commit to Stanford University, where he would spend the next four years refining his game against top-level college competition. Higgins’ father also played one season of college football at the University of South Florida, giving the young tight end an early connection to the sport through family influence.
Path to American Football
Higgins’ football journey took shape in Austin, where the Bowie High School program helped him build a foundation as both a blocker and a pass catcher. His selection to the Under Armour All-America Game served as a national introduction and confirmed his status as one of the top tight end recruits in his class. The four-star ranking reflected his potential at the collegiate level and beyond.
Choosing Stanford offered Higgins the chance to compete in the Pac-12 Conference and to develop under a coaching staff known for producing NFL-ready tight ends. The academic and athletic demands of the program prepared him for the next stage of his career, as he worked to add strength and polish his route tree. By the time he declared for the NFL Draft, Higgins had put together a productive college resume that included multiple seasons of reliable receiving production.
Elijah Higgins Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Higgins enrolled at Stanford in 2019 and saw action in all 12 games during his freshman season, working primarily on special teams. The experience gave him a baseline understanding of the speed and discipline required at the college level. When the 2020 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, he took advantage of the limited schedule and posted 15 receptions for 176 yards across just five games.
As a junior in 2021, Higgins became a featured part of the Stanford offense, leading the team with 45 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns. He followed that performance with a productive senior campaign in 2022, catching 59 passes for 704 yards and two touchdowns. His steady production across multiple seasons positioned him as a draft-eligible tight end heading into the spring of 2023.
Miami Dolphins (2023)
Higgins entered the 2023 NFL Draft and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round with the 197th overall pick. The selection reflected his projection as a developmental tight end with special teams value. His time with the Dolphins, however, was brief, as he was waived on August 29, 2023, during the final roster cuts.
Despite the short stint, the experience gave Higgins a brief introduction to an NFL environment and allowed him to demonstrate his work ethic during training camp and the preseason.
Arizona Cardinals (2023–Present)
On August 30, 2023, just one day after being waived by Miami, Higgins was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals. The move gave him an opportunity to stick with an organization in need of tight end depth. During his rookie season with the Cardinals, he appeared in 11 games and made two starts, finishing the year with 14 receptions on 19 targets for 163 yards and one touchdown.
Heading into 2024, Higgins was listed as the Cardinals’ second-string tight end behind starter Trey McBride. He opened the season with two receptions for 12 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills. In Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, he caught a pass for 18 yards and a touchdown in a 41–10 Cardinals victory. He added another short touchdown reception in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, contributing to a 24–23 win. Across the 2024 season, Higgins played in 17 games with six starts, logging 411 offensive snaps and 176 special teams snaps. He recorded 20 receptions on 24 targets for 172 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to his tight end duties, he occasionally lined up as a fullback because the Cardinals did not carry a true fullback on their roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Higgins brings a balanced skill set to the tight end position, combining reliable hands as a receiver with the willingness to deliver in-line blocks. His route-running precision and comfort catching the ball in traffic have made him a useful underneath target. Defenses must also account for his ability to line up in the slot or out wide, and his fullback snaps add another layer of versatility to Arizona’s offensive packages.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the early highlights of Higgins’ NFL career came in Week 2 of the 2024 season, when he found the end zone against the Los Angeles Rams in a lopsided Cardinals victory. He added another touchdown the following month against the San Francisco 49ers, helping Arizona to a narrow one-point win. Earning a starting role and logging meaningful offensive snaps in his second season marked a clear step forward in his development.
Elijah Higgins Career Wins
Elijah Higgins’ professional win total is tied directly to team success during his time in the NFL. Through the 2024 season, he has been part of an Arizona Cardinals team that has posted multiple regular-season victories, including wins over the Rams and 49ers. As a depth player and rotational tight end, his statistical line shows steady growth rather than headline numbers.
NFL Highlights
Higgins’ first NFL touchdown came in Week 2 of the 2024 season against the Los Angeles Rams. His second score followed in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, a divisional opponent. Across his first two NFL seasons, he has combined for 34 receptions, 335 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in regular-season play.
Other Performances
At the collegiate level, Higgins delivered one of his strongest seasons as a junior in 2021, leading Stanford with 45 receptions, 500 yards, and four touchdowns. He followed that with 59 receptions for 704 yards and two scores as a senior, capping his Stanford career with back-to-back productive campaigns.
Elijah Higgins Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Higgins’ father played one season of college football at the University of South Florida, which helped introduce Elijah to the sport at a young age. That family connection contributed to his early development and his decision to pursue football seriously.
Personal Life
Born in Tampa, Florida, and raised partly in Austin, Texas, Elijah Higgins has built his professional life around his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals. He maintains an active presence on social media, where fans can follow his updates and off-field activities.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 season, Elijah Higgins is expected to remain a key part of the Arizona Cardinals’ tight end room behind starter Trey McBride. His experience in multiple roles, including inline tight end, slot receiver, and fullback, gives the coaching staff valuable flexibility when designing game plans. With another offseason of development behind him, Higgins is positioned to take on a larger share of offensive snaps.
The Cardinals will likely continue to lean on his blocking reliability and sure hands in short-to-intermediate areas of the field. Special teams will also remain an important piece of his role, as he logged 176 special teams snaps in 2024. If he can stay healthy and build on his touchdown production from the previous year, Higgins has a clear path to becoming a more consistent contributor in Arizona’s passing game.
For Higgins, the 2025 season represents an opportunity to cement his role within the organization and to push for an expanded role in the offense. Continued chemistry with the Cardinals’ quarterbacks and coaching staff will be central to that growth. A strong showing could also lay the groundwork for a longer-term role with the franchise.