L.A. Rams Rookie Taylor Rapp Wants to be a role model for Asian-American Athletes

When Taylor Rapp first became interested in football as a child, the game he took a shine to was a game that attracts all sorts of people from all walks of life. But sadly, there weren’t many people from his own.

A star safety for the Washington Huskies in college who is now entering his rookie season as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Rapp is different than many players in professional football: He is one of a very select group of players of Asian descent. As recounted by Andy Fenelon of NFL.com in February, Rapp was born to a Chinese mother and Canadian father, and his maternal grandparents moved with them to the United States. Rapp was born in America, but his Chinese heritage became very much a part of his upbringing.

But being an Asian-American, the players that Rapp could connect to on the basis of heritage were few and in-between. Now, having made it to the NFL himself, Rapp wants to make sure that he can provide an example for others like him.

“Growing up, every kid wants someone they can relate to,” Rapp told Hanh Truong of the Los Angeles Daily News. “It was kind of hard for me with sports because there’s a lack of Asian representation in all pro sports, especially football. I’m just trying to fill that role that I didn’t have as a kid. Just being that figure and role model for those kids who might’ve been in my position. Someone they can relate to, someone to inspire them.”

For Rapp and other young football players like him, there weren’t many Asian-American football players to look towards as examples. Some from other eastern nations have managed to stand out in Rapp’s lifetime, like All-Pro wide receiver and Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward (A native of Seoul, South Korea), All-Pro Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen (The son of Vietnamese refugees), and longtime NFL receiver Johnnie Morton (Born to an American father and a Japanese mother). However, it took all the way until 2010 – when Rapp was 12 – that offensive lineman Ed Wang became the first full-blooded Chinese player to both be drafted and play in the NFL when he was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2010 Draft.