Tip Reiman Bio
Tip Reiman Jr., born on September 17, 2001, is an American professional football tight end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 196 cm tall and listed at 123 kg, he plays as an in-line blocker and pass catcher in the Cardinals offense. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and entered the NFL after being selected by Arizona in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.
After his rookie season, Reiman earned an expanded role on the Cardinals depth chart before an injury cut his 2025 campaign short. He continues to be viewed as a young developmental piece within the Arizona tight end room.
Early Life and Background
Tip Reiman Jr. was born on September 17, 2001, and grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota. He attended St. Thomas More High School in Rapid City before transferring as a junior to O’Gorman Catholic High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At O’Gorman, he lined up at tight end after earlier seeing action at several positions, giving his coaches a clear view of his preferred role.
As a senior at O’Gorman, Reiman helped his team win the state championship game. He also competed in track and field, an experience that helped him build the speed and explosiveness he would later rely on as a college pass catcher. His high school résumé drew scholarship offers from the South Dakota Coyotes and South Dakota State Jackrabbits, but he chose instead to walk on at Illinois.
Path to the NFL
Reiman joined the Illinois Fighting Illini as a walk-on and played all eight games as a true freshman in 2020, working primarily on special teams. He earned a scholarship from the school in 2021 and appeared in 12 games that season, making three starts and recording three receptions for 43 yards. The added responsibilities marked the first signs that the Illinois staff saw him as a future contributor on offense.
In 2022, Reiman became a full-time starter, playing all 13 games and finishing the year with 19 receptions for 174 yards and one touchdown. He returned in 2023 as a team captain and again started all 12 games, posting 19 receptions for 203 yards and three scores. Off the field, he was named Academic All-Big Ten Conference every year from 2021 through 2023. Following the 2023 season he declared for the 2024 NFL draft and was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
Tip Reiman Career
College Career (2020–2023)
Reiman’s college trajectory followed a steady upward arc. He arrived at Illinois without a scholarship, spent his first year on special teams, and gradually worked his way into a starting role on offense. By his final two seasons he was a team captain and a reliable target in the passing game.
Across his four seasons at Illinois, Reiman recorded 41 receptions for 420 yards and four touchdowns while earning Academic All-Big Ten honors three times. His combination of size, blocking ability and steady hands made him a draft-worthy prospect, and his Combine invitation confirmed that NFL teams were tracking his progress.
Rookie Season with the Arizona Cardinals (2024)
Reiman was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 82nd overall pick. He began his rookie season as the Cardinals’ third tight end behind starter Trey McBride and second-stringer Elijah Higgins. Reiman made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2024 season, a loss to the Buffalo Bills, playing 31 total snaps including 20 on offense and 11 on special teams.
In Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, Reiman recorded his first NFL reception, a five-yard catch in a 24-23 Arizona win. He went on to play in 17 games and start nine as a rookie, logging 450 offensive snaps and 189 special teams snaps. He finished the year with six receptions on seven targets for 37 yards, lining up most often as an in-line tight end. Both Reiman and Elijah Higgins also occasionally played fullback for Arizona, which did not carry a traditional fullback on its roster.
Second Season and Injury (2025)
Reiman entered the 2025 NFL season as the Cardinals’ No. 2 tight end behind Trey McBride. In Week 1 he recorded one reception for 10 yards on 34 offensive snaps in a win against the New Orleans Saints. He missed the following game with an injury before returning to post two receptions for eight yards in a Week 3 loss against the San Francisco 49ers.
During a Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans, Reiman suffered an ankle injury that led to him being placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 6, 2025. The early end to his second campaign cut short what had begun as a clear step forward in his role within the Arizona offense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Reiman is best known for his blocking rather than his pass-catching volume. His size allows him to hold up in pass protection and as a run blocker, which is why the Cardinals trusted him with the second-most tight end snaps behind Trey McBride as a rookie. When he does align in the passing game, he tends to line up in-line rather than in the slot, giving Arizona a traditional tight end look.
Notable Events and Milestones
Reiman’s signature milestones include his first NFL reception against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 of the 2024 season, his third-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft, and his promotion to the Cardinals’ No. 2 tight end role entering 2025. His Academic All-Big Ten recognition from 2021 to 2023 also stands out as a milestone off the field.
Tip Reiman Career Stats
Through his first two NFL seasons, Reiman has appeared in games for the Arizona Cardinals while contributing primarily as a blocker and secondary pass catcher at tight end. His receiving totals reflect a developmental role behind Trey McBride rather than a featured passing-game role.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
In his rookie 2024 season, Reiman played in 17 games with nine starts and finished with six receptions on seven targets for 37 yards. His first career reception came in Week 5 of 2024 against the San Francisco 49ers. He began the 2025 season with three receptions for 18 yards across three active weeks before a Week 5 ankle injury ended his year.
Other Performances
At Illinois, Reiman posted 41 receptions for 420 yards and four touchdowns across four college seasons and was a two-year team captain. His high school career included a South Dakota state championship with O’Gorman Catholic High School in Sioux Falls.
| Team | Year | Games | Starts | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 2024 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 37 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 2025 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 0 |
Tip Reiman Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public details about Tip Reiman Jr.’s immediate family are limited. He grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, before moving to Sioux Falls to finish high school at O’Gorman Catholic. His choice to walk on at Illinois rather than accept nearby scholarship offers suggested a willingness to leave home in pursuit of a stronger football opportunity.
Personal Life
Reiman is not publicly known to be married, and no spouse or children are listed in verified records. He attended Illinois, where he was recognized three times as an Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree from 2021 through 2023.
2025 Season Performance
Reiman opened the 2025 season as Arizona’s No. 2 tight end behind Trey McBride, signaling a promotion from his rookie-year role as the third tight end. He played 34 offensive snaps in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints, catching one pass for 10 yards in a Cardinals win. The early usage suggested a larger role in the passing game alongside his usual blocking duties.
After sitting out one game with an injury, Reiman returned in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers and recorded two receptions for eight yards. His season then ended in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans when an ankle injury led to a placement on season-ending injured reserve on October 6, 2025. The injury cut short a campaign that had begun with meaningful on-field growth within the Cardinals offense.
Looking ahead, Reiman’s 2025 film showed enough progress as a blocker and role-specific contributor to keep him firmly in Arizona’s tight end picture once healthy. With Trey McBride still the focal point of the position group, Reiman’s path back to the field is expected to mirror his rookie responsibilities as a physical, in-line tight end who can also contribute on special teams.