what number is tee higgins
Tee Higgins currently wears number 5 for the Cincinnati Bengals.
This wide receiver switched from No. 85—his original NFL jersey—to No. 5 ahead of the 2023 season, returning to the number he rocked at Clemson University. The change helped him step out of the shadow of Bengals legend Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, who made 85 iconic, as Higgins shared back in 2021: he didn't want to be seen as "Ochocinco 2.0."
Why the Switch?
- College roots : No. 5 was Higgins' number in high school and at Clemson, where he tallied over 2,400 receiving yards.
- NFL rule change : The league loosened single-digit rules for receivers in 2022, making it possible without drama.
- Fresh identity : Announced officially in March 2023, he stuck with it through 2025 and into 2026.
Quick Career Snapshot
Higgins, drafted in 2020 (2nd round, 33rd overall), has been a Bengals staple alongside Ja'Marr Chase. By 2025, stats sites confirm he's still repping No. 5, with ESPN profiles listing it prominently as of early 2026. No recent trades or changes noted—he's locked in as Bengals WR #5.
TL;DR at bottom: Tee Higgins is #5, a deliberate nod to his Clemson days and a break from Bengals history.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.