Bengals WR Tee Higgins joins elite company in the NFL thanks to a major business decision
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is making a significant branding move this offseason, switching from Nike to Under Armour in a deal that positions him alongside some of the NFL’s biggest names.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins is going to be wearing different gear starting this year as he is switching from Nike to Under Armour.
Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Higgins will be “a central part of Under Armour’s football marketing efforts.”
Higgins joins a roster that already features Minnesota Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and Indianapolis Colts All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor.
Switching from the most dominant brand in the game to a rising competitor is a calculated decision for Higgins with a clear upside. As one of UA’s headlining NFL athletes, Higgins gains individual visibility that can be difficult to cultivate while playing alongside Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati’s offense.
Tee Higgins carves out his own identity
The Bengals have the luxury of rostering two legitimate No. 1 receivers in Chase and Higgins. Chase is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in football and signed the largest contract a non-quarterback offensive player had ever received. He also secured his own apparel deal with Fabletics, though he still wears Nike cleats on the field.
Higgins made the conscious decision to stay with the Bengals and sign a multi-year extension. He could’ve continued his pursuit to be the uncontested alpha receiver in another offense, a choice that would’ve gained him more individual prominence. The now 27-year old chose to stay in Cincinnati.
This deal is a unique way for Higgins to elevate his name as a football player outside of the offense he shares with Chase. Jefferson has the best argument against Chase for the best wide receiver in the NFL, and Higgins will be right there with him as a face of the brand. Taylor is also one of the best all-around running backs in the game. It’s a strong headlining group of playmakers.
Under Armour gets a massive win as well
Higgins is a phenomenal get for Under Armour. The brand is clearly growing in terms of the caliber of football players representing it, and adding a receiver of Higgins’ talent only strengthens that push.
For Higgins, the financial terms of the deal add to what is already one of the larger receiver contracts in the NFL, giving him some added dough on top of his current contract that pays him just short of $30 million a year on average.
This is a way for Higgins to grow his brand as an individual player while still thriving alongside a more well-known and perhaps more highly regarded wideout in Chase. He chose to stay in Cincinnati. Now he’s finding ways to make sure the football world knows his name beyond the Bengals’ depth chart.