Taylor Rapp

Taylor Rapp's Biography

Taylor Michael Rapp, born on 22nd December 1997, is a highly regarded contemporary professional American football player. Currently, he performs his duties as a safety for the Buffalo Bills, a team in the National Football League (NFL). Before embarking on his professional journey, Rapp utilized his college years playing football at Washington.

Born into a multicultural family in Atlanta, Georgia, Rapp’s parental lineage boasts a blend of Chinese and Caucasian ethnicities. His mother hails from Shanghai, China, while his father, a Caucasian, is of Canadian descent. Post his birth, the Rapp family decided to relocate to the West Coast, hence Taylor was primarily raised in Bellingham, Washington. He spent his formative years alongside his older brother, Austin, who is three years his senior.

Rapp’s unique journey to the NFL trenches mirrors an inspirational tale of resilience. The NFL.com has thus chronicled his life, marking him as a player who eclipsed long odds, including lack of local football support, high school mockery, racial taunting, and professional neglect, all due to his Chiense roots.

During his high school years at Sehome High School in Bellingham, Rapp showcased his versatile athletic prowess. Besides playing safety and running back in football, he also delivered commendable performances in track events. Taking his talent to new heights, Rapp even represented the U-16 and U-17 USA national teams. His exceptional high school success garnered the attention of Washington, to which he committed following spring of his junior year, sidelining offers from numerous Football Bowl Subdivision programs, including Oregon, Stanford, Nebraska, and Notre Dame.

Recognized as the #1 safety prospect in Washington state and the 9th best on the West Coast by Scout.com, Rapp’s invitation to the prestigious U.S. Army All-American Bowl game further added to his growing reputation. However, due to conflicting schedule commitments, Rapp opted to drop the opportunity in favor of early enrollment at the University of Washington.

As a freshman, he made a tangible impact on the field, participating in each of the 14 games, with a string of 10 consecutive starts. His interception streak in the 2016 Pac-12 Football Championship Game against Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau, brought him into the limelight. His commendable performance earned him the Pac-12 Championship Game MVP title, joining the ranks of the USA Today Freshman All-America team, along with his subsequent selection in ESPN True Freshman All-America team, Pro Football Focus Freshman All-American Team, and the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team.

Being acknowledged by Sports Illustrated as one of the 100 best players in college football, Rapp was also conferred with the first-team All-Pac-12 and Academic All-Pac-12 first-team honors. Rapp demonstrated academic excellence by making his way into the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business on the threshold of the 2017 season. Prior to his junior season, both the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated honored him as a first-team All-American, following which Rapp announced his decision to forego his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL draft.

Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft, his four-year rookie contract was worth $4.67 million, involving $2.12 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.41 million. Following his NFL debut, he showcased his talent in intercepting passes and scoring touchdowns, significantly contributing to his team’s performance. A knee injury in Week 10 of the 2020 season placed him on injured reserve, briefly halting his football career.

After recovering, Rapp went on to record two interceptions, three passes defended, and five tackles, earning him the title of National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Despite suffering a concussion in week 17, Rapp returned to the playoffs, showcasing an exceptional performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI and sealed his first Super Bowl victory.

Rapp’s contribution to the Bills’ victory against adversaries including the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers validated his value as a professional player. However, he faced a significant setback following a collision with running back Breece Hall resulting in a neck injury that required immediate medical attention, following which he was carted offthe field. Undeterred by this, Rapp made a remarkable comeback in the season finale against the Miami Dolphins, sealing the AFC East for the Bills with a decisive last-minute interception.

Rapp continues to grow professionally, having recently extended his contract with the Buffalo Bills for three more years in 2024. Off the field, Rapp is engaged to Dani Johnson, for whom he popped the question following his Super Bowl LVI victory with the Rams. Despite facing various obstacles, Rapp’s triumphant career in American football is a testament to his talent, tenacity, and unyielding will.