Rashard Higgins

Rashard Malick Higgins, known by his nickname “Hollywood,” was born on October 7, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. He began his athletic journey at Mesquite High School, where he was a three-sport athlete excelling in football, basketball, and track. In football, he played as a wide receiver, recording 69 receptions for 1,136 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior year. His talents earned him a two-star recruit rating from Rivals.com. Higgins continued his football career at Colorado State University as a true freshman in 2013, starting all 14 games. He set a school freshman record with 68 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns. His collegiate success culminated in 2014 when he was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award and earned first-team All-American honors, leading the nation in receiving yards (1,750) and receiving touchdowns (17).

Higgins was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft as the 172nd overall pick. He signed a four-year contract with the team. During his rookie season, he recorded six receptions for 77 yards. His performance improved in subsequent seasons; in 2017, he finished with 27 receptions for 312 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including his first two career touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2018, Higgins secured 39 receptions for 572 yards and four touchdowns. He continued with the Browns until 2021 before signing a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2022. On April 15, 2024, Higgins announced his retirement from the NFL, signing a one-day contract to officially retire as a Cleveland Brown. Following his retirement from professional football, Higgins embarked on a new career path, training to become a firefighter with the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, a role he commenced in September 2025.