Tee Higgins calls chance to reunite with Brian Callahan on Tennessee Titans 'ideal'

Tee Higgins, one of the best high school football players to come out of Tennessee in the last decade, isn't ruling out a return to his home state as a pro with the Tennessee Titans.

Higgins, the standout Cincinnati Bengals receiver, is a free agent this offseason after four years, 257 catches and 24 touchdowns with the Bengals. The Oak Ridge graduate and two-time Mr. Football winner will have the opportunity to re-sign with Cincinnati or be franchise tagged by the team that drafted him. But if Higgins does hit the open market, his home state connection and familiarity with Titans coach and former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan make the Titans a natural fit.

"It would be good," Higgins said about joining up with the Titans speaking to The Sick Podcast on radio row at the Super Bowl on Thursday. "Going back home to family and then being able to play for a coach that I’ve already been under. It would be ideal."

Higgins only played in 12 games in 2023 but still amassed 656 yards and five touchdowns. He surpassed 1,000 yards in 2021 and 2022, helping lead the Bengals to division titles both years. He's also proven stellar in the playoffs through his career, including a 100-yard, two-touchdown performance in Super Bowl LVI.

Callahan is the only offensive coordinator Higgins has ever played for. The Titans hired Callahan in January after five years designing Cincinnati's offense, the last four of those spent with Higgins.

"(He has) a great offensive mind," Higgins told TennesseeTitans.com about Callahan. "I was able to pick his brain a little bit, and learn new things about the game that I didn't know. He's just a great offensive mind."

NFL teams are allowed to franchise tag players between Feb. 20 and March 5 this offseason. If Higgins and the Bengals do not agree to a contract extension before March 11 and Higgins is not franchise tagged in the aforementioned window, he will become a free agent.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tee Higgins calls fit with Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans 'ideal'