The Bengals' big-play receivers have done it again in Paycor Stadium's biggest one-night bonanza.
According to Sunday's published reports, the Bengals have reached long-term deals with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to keep intact the NFL's leading pass offense.
Chase, the third receiver this century to win the NFL's receiving triple crown, reportedly became the NFL's richest non-quarterback. Higgins, the only player the Bengals have given the franchise tag two straight years, cashed one of the biggest receiver deals ever.
The deals also keep intact the Bengals' most prolific scoring offense of all-time.
With Chase dancing to a franchise-best 17 touchdowns and Higgins high-pointing to a career-best 10, the Bengals racked up 472 points on the wings of quarterback Joe Burrow’s NFL-leading 43 touchdown passes.
Chase, who turned 25 last week, is coming off his fourth straight Pro Bowl season and first as an All-Pro when he became the first player to score 17 touchdowns while catching more than 1,700 yards. He became the sixth receiver in the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in touchdowns, yards and catches with 127. All Bengals records.
The deal continues the escapades of Chase and Burrow, LSU teammates who engineered a perfect national championship season in 2019 before the Bengals made Burrow the first overall draft pick of the 2020s and followed it up by taking Chase with the fifth pick in the 2021 draft.
"He works for it. He grinds for it. He's a once-in-a-lifetime-type player and our careers will forever be tied together from college into the pro landscape," Burrow said of Chase late last season. "That's just fun to be a part of."
Burrow and Higgins have also been hand-in-glove. Higgins arrived the draft pick after Burrow five years ago.
The 6-4 Higgins, the Bengals' big receiver with a history of big games, had one of his biggest the last time he was here in Paycor's 2024 finale. In an elimination game against Denver, Higgins grabbed a personal-best three touchdowns, the last from three yards out to win it in overtime. His over-the-shoulder grab that defied the left sideline on a 31-yard pearl from Burrow moments earlier set it up.
"Everybody can see what kind of player he is," Burrow said after the Denver win. "He elevates us to a different level when he's playing like that."
The man you can call "Big Game Tee," loves December, home of six of his 14 career 100-yard games. Three years ago, he had 103 yards in the AFC Championship win in Kansas City and then had 100 more in the Super Bowl.
A fan favorite, each catch at Paycor is followed by the bellowing of "T-eeee---eeee," a chant that has followed him on the road.
Chase is another fan favorite who usually celebrates in the end zone with "The Griddy," a dance from his native New Orleans.
There's a lot to like.
The 6-0, 201-pound Chase, an explosive dynamo with the hand strength of an offensive lineman and the running style of a Hall-of-Fame back, also led the league with 787 yards after the catch this past season. Since he shot into the league as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, he leads the NFL with 18 touchdowns of at least 40 yards, 13 of 50, and a dozen of at least 60.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has so much confidence in Chase's knowledge of the game, he lines him up anywhere anytime.
"Every space you can think of, he has occupied," said Taylor last season. "I mean, it's number one, number two, number three. We like him on the edge and then getting him the ball. Trying to put him in the backfield, come across underneath, same side deal. Isolated over there by himself. We put him everywhere."
Now he and Higgins are staying in one place.
Cincinnati.
See the best shots from Bengals WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
WRs Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase celebrate a play in Week 7 against the Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, October 20, 2024.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a touchdown against the Cowboys in Dallas, Monday, December 9, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. The Cincinnati Bengals won 27-20. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins enter the field from the tunnel ahead of Week 18 against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, January 4, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter during Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, Sunday, November 17, 2024
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) pose for a photo prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Detroit. The Bengals won 34-11. (Aaron Doster via AP)
WR Ja'Marr Chase scores a first-quarter touchdown against the Cowboys in Dallas, Monday, December 9, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) interacts with wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) after a play during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, January 8, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates his touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with Tee Higgins (85) after Chase caught a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrate a Week 14 over the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, December 9, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with teammate Tee Higgins after scoring during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
WR Tee Higgins scores a touchdown in Week 17 against the Broncos at Paycor Stadium, Saturday, December 28, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) after making a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase scores a touchdown during Monday Night Football at Paycor Stadium against the Washington Commanders, Monday, September 23, 2024.
WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins celebrate a touchdown in Week 5 against the Ravens at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) run a route from the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with wide receiver Tee Higgins (5), and wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, December 9, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a 70-yard touchdown during the Bengals primetime Week 10 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins celebrate a touchdown on Monday Night Football against the Jagaurs in Jacksonville, Monday, December 4, 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) reaches for the end zone to score a touchdown over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) celebrate during an NFL Super Wild Card Weekend playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, January 15, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Kara Durrette/NFL)
WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins enter the tunnel ahead of a battle with the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, November 17, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kate Foultz/NFL)
