After graduating from college in 1976, Higgins attempted to enter the National Football League, but was not selected in the 1976 NFL draft.

In 1979, Higgins was signed by the Buffalo Bills and played one year in the United States, before returning to Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL.

Higgins became head coach of the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos later that year, leading the team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons.

He coached a historic 2014 football season starting 1–7, turning the team around to a 9-9 second-place finish, hosting a play off game and defeating the BC Lions.

[5] Higgins was hired in early 2020 as the defensive coordinator of the University of Alberta Golden Bears.