'You Just Can't Let Him Get Out of the Building' - Joe Burrow Backs Tee Higgins Again After Bengals Win

The Bengals beat the Steelers to improve to finish the season with a 9-8 record. Higgins is scheduled to become a free agent in March.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1), quarterback Joe Burrow (9) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) take the field as captains for the coin toss before the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow and the Bengals beat the Steelers 19-17 on Saturday night in what could've been his last game with Tee Higgins.

The 25-year-old played this season on the franchise tag and is scheduled to become a free agent in March.

Higgins finished the 2024 season with 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games.

While the Bengals still have a chance of making the playoffs, Burrow made it clear that he wants Higgins back next season and beyond.

"We started this whole thing together. We came in together and we've built this thing from the ground up," Burrow said. "You don't want to make a habit of letting great players get out of the building, just like I said earlier in the week. Tee [Higgins] is a great player and a guy that does everything the right way and works really hard for it. When you have a guy like that, you don't—you just can't let him get out of the building. He's a one-of-a-kind person, one-of-a-kind player, and one that we really count on and is an integral part of what we do around here. Hopefully we can make that happen."

Higgins changed agents last month. He's now represented by Rocky Arceneaux—the same agent as Ja'Marr Chase.

Chase is also looking for a long-term deal this offseason after posting record-setting numbers. He is under contract for the 2025 season. Meanwhile, Higgins could be tagged again, but he wants a long-term deal, not a one-year tag.

Clearly Burrow wants both of his top weapons back. He's made that clear over the past month. If the Bengals don't find their way into the postseason, attention will shift to the front office. They have to find a way to keep two of their top players this offseason.

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