Elijah Higgins

Elijah Higgins (born October 27, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal.

Elijah Higgins

Higgins in 2025
No. 84 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(2000-10-27) October 27, 2000 (age 24) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:	Bowie (Austin, Texas)
College:	Stanford (2019–2022)
NFL draft:	2023: 6th round, 197th pick
Career history
Miami Dolphins (2023)* Arizona Cardinals (2023–present)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:	Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Receptions: 34 Receiving yards: 335 Receiving average: 9.9 Receiving touchdowns: 3 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Higgins grew up in Florida and attended Bowie High School in Austin, Texas.^[1] He was selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game during his senior season.^[2] Higgins was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Stanford.^[3]

College career

Higgins played in all 12 games as a freshman at Stanford, primarily on special teams. He had 15 receptions for 176 yards in a 5-game schedule during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Higgins led the Cardinal with 45 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns during his junior season.^[4][5] He caught 59 passes for 704 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.^[6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	31+3⁄4 in (0.81 m)	10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m)	4.54 s	1.56 s	2.61 s	4.50 s	7.01 s	35.0 in (0.89 m)	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)	17 reps
Sources:[7][8]

Miami Dolphins

Higgins was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round, 197th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.^[9] He was waived on August 29, 2023.^[10]

Arizona Cardinals

2023 season

On August 30, 2023, Higgins was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals.^[11] In his rookie season, he played in 11 games and started 2. He finished the 2023 season with 14 receptions on 19 targets for 163 yards and 1 touchdown.^[12]

2024 season

Higgins started the 2024 season as the Cardinals' second-string tight end behind Trey McBride. In Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills he caught 2 passes for 12 yards in a 34–28 loss for the Cardinals. In Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, Higgins caught one pass for 18 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals' 41–10 win. In Week 5 he caught one pass for two yards and a touchdown in a 24–23 win against the San Francisco 49ers.

In addition to their roles as tight ends, both Higgins and fellow tight end Tip Reiman would both occasionally play fullback due to the Cardinals not carrying a true one on their roster during the 2024 season.

In the 2024 season Higgins played in 17 games and started 6, playing 411 offensive snaps and 176 special teams snaps. He recorded 20 receptions on 24 targets for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns.^[13] Higgins played 278 snaps as a tight end, 35 snaps as a fullback, 73 snaps as a slot receiver, and 25 snaps out wide.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2023	ARI	11	2	14	163	11.6	26	1	0	0
2024	ARI	17	6	20	172	8.6	23	2	0	0
Career		28	8	34	335	9.9	23	3	0	0

Personal life

Higgins' father played one season of college football at The University of South Florida.^[14][15]