If Tee Higgins were a flower, he might be a sunflower. Sunflowers are known for their strength and resilience. They always turn towards the light and stand tall.
In the same way, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver has shown incredible resilience and strength in his life.
The NFL player has witnessed his mother being shot in the head and the tragic passing of his father. And he managed to remain strong and positive through it all.
Highlights
- Tee Higgins’ mother, Lady Stewart, started using and dealing drugs when she was 19 and struggled with addiction for over a decade.
- The NFL player lost his father, Eric Higgins, when he was 23 year-old.
- The athlete has said that his mother’s recovery and strength helped him overcome the tragic passing of his dad.
Tee Higgins is a talented football wide receiver who plays for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL.
He began his football career at Clemson University, where he helped the team win the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship.
After college, he was drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Since then, Tee has made a big impact on the field, with over 4,200 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in his professional career.
He was also named First-team All-ACC in 2019. Tee’s impressive performances include two 100-yard receiving games in the postseason, one in the AFC Championship and another in Super Bowl LVI.
Tee Higgins’ Mother Camilla Stewart Struggled With Substance Abuse For A Long Time
Tee Higgins’ mom, Camilla Stewart, began using and dealing substances when she was just 19 years old.
Camilla, known as Lady in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was born on 9 April 1972.
In an interview with the New York Post, she said her struggle was the result of her choice.
This choice led to many challenges in her life. During her struggles, Tee was often cared for by his aunts and his father, Eric.
Despite her efforts to stay clean, Camilla ended up in jail when she was 20, spending 14 months there.
After her release, the athlete’s mother managed to stay drug-free for a while, especially after she got together with Tee Higgins’ dad, whom she had known for her entire life.
However, they eventually broke up, and she relapsed. One of the most traumatic events for the NFL player happened when he was six years old.
His mother was shot in the head by her boyfriend, who was also a drug dealer. She survived the attack but needed 160 screws in her skull.
Tee occasionally revealed that he still vividly remembers that day. He recalled being taken out of school by his sister, KeKe, who is ten years older than him.
“When we pulled up to the house, it seemed like there were 100 police officers out front, but I remember the yellow tape more than anything.”
Tee Higgins
Even after this traumatic event, Camilla struggled with addiction. It wasn’t until she spent six or seven months in the Anderson County Detention Facility that she decided to seek help.
The NFL star’s mom knew she needed to change her life and joined a recovery program called Serenity. This program helped her learn to love herself and become a better mother.
Camilla has been clean for several years now and has no regrets about her past, believing that everything happened for a reason.
Tee is incredibly proud of his mom’s strength and transformation. He has a tattoo that symbolizes their journey and believes they have no choice but to be great.
Nevertheless, Tee considers himself a “mama’s boy” and admires his mother’s resilience.
Tee Higgins’ Father Passed Away Just Before His 23rd Birthday
In an episode of “Mobil 1: Behind the Drive with Tee Higgins” on the “I AM ATHLETE” show, Tee Higgins opened up about the most difficult period of his life.
The passing of his father, Eric Higgins.
Born in January 1999, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Tee shared that his father had a limited presence in his life due to his incarceration.
Tee shared that his father was in prison for most of his childhood but finally got out and was able to see him play football in such a big league.
It was surely one of the proudest moments for Higgins as a son. Even when sharing his happy moments with his late dad, the athlete’s face lit up with joy.
Sadly, his father passed away just before Tee’s birthday and a Steelers game in August of 2022.
“I grew up with obviously my father was in my life, but now he was in prison for the most part, and he was finally able to get out, finally got to come to see me play football.”
Tee Higgins
Tee described this as one of the lowest points in his life, as he was so happy to have his father back but found it hard to stay strong after his passing.
He recalled spending two days in a dark house with no lights, struggling with the loss.
What kept him strong was his mother’s support, who, despite her own battles, inspired him to overcome his challenges.
The athlete shared that his mom’s resilience and ability to bounce back from “rock bottom” gave Tee the strength to carry on.
Additional Information
- According to Pro Football Network, Tee Higgins’ net worth is estimated to be around $12 million.
- Tee Higgins signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, which was worth $21.816 million.
- The entire amount is guaranteed, and his salary for 2024 will be $21.816 million. This amount also represents his cap hit and dead cap value for the year.
