Tee Higgins decision staying with 85 commitment to Bengals fans

The decision by wide receiver Tee Higgins to remain with his number 85 and not switch to his college and high school number five is a commitment to Bengals fans. Higgins had the option to switch when the NFL this week made numbers one through 19 open to more than kickers, punters and quarterbacks.

Higgins had a breakout rookie season in 2020 developing a rapport with his classmate Joe Burrow. Playing in every game with 14 starts, Higgins had 67 receptions for 908 yards and six touchdowns. Higgins led Cincinantin in receiving yards and TDs and was second in receptions to Tyler Boyd in 2020.

Higgins showed the importance of fans showing his and Burrow’s jerseys. Burrow and Higgins who went against each other in the College Football Playoff Championship Game in January 2020, should be one of the best QB-WR tandems in the coming years in the NFL. Higgins should take the mantle from A.J. Green.

Bengals fans will be hearing Burrow to Higgins or as the WR says nine to 85 for foreseeable future. In the era of social media where players can connect directly to fans the decision by Higgins to listen to the fans and have their voice be a part of his decision to retain 85 speaks to his character.

"“It was me and my cousin’s favorite number growing up and he told me to wear it in college. I want to go back to the old number. But a lot of the fans like me in 85. I want to do what makes them happy. It was like, ‘Bro, just stay in 85 now, I just bought your jersey,’ I like the sound of nine to eighty-five…Then again, nine to five is a regular work schedule. Still, it sounded like he had made a call. But I’ll keep eighty-five.”"

Higgins explained the process that went into the decision to keep 85 to Bengals.Com as posted this week. Changing numbers is a complicated process. If a player wants to change numbers they have to pay to buy out the inventory of their unsold jerseys. If the player doesn’t want to buy them they can change numbers the next season.

The rule change to allow more players to wear jerseys numbers between one through 19 comes just two days after the Bengals revealed their new uniforms. Entering the second season, Burrow and Higgins should be should start selling millions of Bengals jerseys for fans for the foreseeable future.