Tyler Higbee Bio
Tyler Higbee is an American professional football tight end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and was selected by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 256 pounds, Higbee has developed into one of the most reliable pass-catching tight ends in the Rams’ franchise history.
Throughout his NFL career, Higbee has been a steady presence in the Los Angeles offense. He won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams and owns most of the franchise’s major receiving records for the tight end position. He also earned first-team All-Conference USA recognition during his senior season at Western Kentucky.
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 nearby Tarpon Springs, Florida. At East Lake, he was a two-sport standout who competed in both football and baseball.
In football, Higbee played wide receiver for the Eagles and was named team MVP. His size and athletic profile helped him attract attention from college programs, and he was rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com. Despite the modest ranking, his combination of height and hands made him an appealing prospect for teams looking for a pass-catching tight end.
Path to Professional Football
After high school, Higbee chose to attend Western Kentucky University, where he joined the Hilltoppers football program. He developed steadily, recording 15 receptions for 230 yards and four touchdowns during his junior season. His senior year brought a breakout performance, with 38 receptions for 563 yards and eight touchdowns, establishing him as one of the top tight end prospects in college football.
Following the 2015 season, Higbee accepted an invitation to the 2016 Senior Bowl but later withdrew because of a knee sprain. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he met with teams but could not run drills due to the injury. He also visited with scouts at Western Kentucky’s pro day and held private meetings with the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints. NFL Draft experts projected him as a fourth or fifth round selection.
Tyler Higbee Career
Early Career (2016)
The Los Angeles Rams selected Higbee in the fourth round, 110th overall, of the 2016 NFL draft. He was the highest-drafted Hilltopper since 2002 and part of the largest draft class in Western Kentucky’s school history. 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.
Higbee opened his rookie year behind veterans Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey on the depth chart. He made his NFL debut in the season opener at the San Francisco 49ers, catching a two-yard pass from quarterback Case Keenum for his first career reception. He finished 2016 with 11 receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown across 16 games, including seven starts. His first NFL touchdown came on a two-yard pass from Jared Goff in a late-season loss to the 49ers.
NFL Breakthrough (2017-2018)
Under new head coach Sean McVay in 2017, Higbee was named the starting tight end. He responded with 25 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown while starting all 16 games. He also started his first playoff game, an NFC Wild Card loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
In 2018, Higbee started every game again, recording 24 receptions for 292 yards and a career-high two touchdowns. He caught scoring passes from Goff against the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks and added a career-high six receptions in a high-scoring win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Rams returned to the playoffs and advanced to Super Bowl LIII, where Higbee caught a one-yard touchdown in the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints. He was held without a catch in the Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2019-Present)
On September 5, 2019, Higbee signed a four-year, $31 million contract extension with the Rams. He broke out that season with career highs of 69 receptions and 734 receiving yards, adding three touchdowns. He posted 100-yard games against the Cardinals, Seahawks, Cowboys, and 49ers.
In 2020, Higbee scored a career-high five touchdowns, including three against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 2021 season was another milestone year, as he passed Lance Kendricks and Billy Truax to become the Rams’ all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. A knee injury during the NFC Championship Game forced him onto injured reserve before Super Bowl LVI, but he still earned a championship ring when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. In 2022, Higbee started all 17 games, set a new single-season high with 72 receptions, and surpassed 3,000 career receiving yards. On Christmas Day, he broke Damone Johnson’s franchise record for touchdown receptions by a tight end.
Higbee signed a two-year extension in September 2023 and played 15 games before tearing his ACL and MCL in the Wild Card playoff loss at Detroit. He returned late in the 2024 season and contributed in the playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. He opened the 2025 season as the starting tight end before an ankle injury in Week 11 placed him on injured reserve.
Driving Style and Strengths
Higbee is known as a reliable pass-catching tight end with the size to win contested throws and the route-running polish to operate across the formation. He has built strong timing with quarterbacks Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, and he is trusted to handle a heavy share of intermediate targets. His blocking and red-zone presence have also made him a complete option in the Los Angeles offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Higbee’s most defining moment came when he earned a Super Bowl LVI ring with the Rams despite missing the game due to injury. He has set the franchise’s tight end records for career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, and he crossed 3,000 career receiving yards in 2022.
Tyler Higbee Career Wins
Tyler Higbee has been part of several winning seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, including NFC West titles in 2017 and 2018 and the Super Bowl LVI championship following the 2021 season. He has also collected individual milestones, including first-team All-Conference USA honors in 2015.
NFL Highlights
Higbee’s first NFL start came in the 2016 season opener at the San Francisco 49ers, and his first touchdown followed later that season against the same opponent. His career-best statistical season came in 2022, when he recorded 72 receptions. Most recently, Higbee caught a touchdown on his first snap back from injury in December 2024 against the New York Jets. His championship ring came from Super Bowl LVI.
Other Performances
At Western Kentucky, Higbee earned first-team All-Conference USA recognition in 2015 after leading the Hilltoppers with 38 receptions for 563 yards and eight touchdowns. He was also a Senior Bowl invitee before withdrawing due to injury.
Tyler Higbee Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Tyler’s parents and extended family are limited. He grew up in the Clearwater area of Florida and attended East Lake High School, where he played both football and baseball.
Personal Life
Higbee has largely kept his personal life private. Information about a spouse or children is not publicly confirmed. Outside of football, he has been active in community service, completing 250 hours as part of a court diversion program following a 2017 plea agreement.
2025 Season Performance
Tyler Higbee began the 2025 season as Los Angeles’ starting tight end and produced 190 receiving yards and two touchdowns across nine games. He served as a steady veteran presence for quarterback Matthew Stafford and helped anchor the Rams’ passing attack during the first half of the schedule.
His season was interrupted in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks, when he suffered an ankle injury that led to a placement on injured reserve on November 19, 2025. The Rams moved forward with younger tight ends and adjusted their offensive game plan during his absence.
Looking ahead, Higbee remains a key part of the Rams’ long-term plans at tight end because of his franchise records and chemistry with Stafford. His recovery timeline and ability to return at full strength will likely shape the Rams’ offensive outlook once the postseason picture clarifies.