Taylor Michael Rapp Bio
Taylor Michael Rapp (born December 22, 1997) is an American professional football safety who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Rapp has established himself as a versatile defensive back known for his football intelligence, open-field tackling, and playmaking ability in the secondary. He earned a Super Bowl championship with the Rams in 2022 and has continued his career with the Buffalo Bills since 2023.
Early Life and Background
Rapp was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a Chinese mother from Shanghai and a Caucasian father from Canada. After his birth, his parents decided to move to the West Coast, and he was raised in Bellingham, Washington, with his older brother Austin, who is three years his senior. Growing up in a city that historically did not strongly support prep football, Rapp faced significant challenges as he pursued his athletic dreams.
Rapp attended Sehome High School in Bellingham, Washington, where he played safety and running back while also competing in track and field. Despite his talents, he encountered skepticism from high school community members who openly mocked him and coaches who were unprepared to develop his abilities. College recruiters initially overlooked him, and he faced racial taunting for his Chinese ethnicity. Nevertheless, Rapp remained undeterred and continued to excel on the field.
Due to his exceptional performance at the high school level, Rapp earned invitations to play for the United States national teams at the U-16 and U-17 levels. He committed to the University of Washington during the spring of his junior year, choosing the Huskies over several prominent Football Bowl Subdivision programs, including Oregon, Stanford, Nebraska, and Notre Dame. He was ranked as the number one safety prospect in the state of Washington and the ninth best safety on the West Coast by Scout.com.
Path to Professional Football
Rapp enrolled early at the University of Washington in January 2016, participating in winter workouts and spring practices. His rapid development allowed him to see playing time in all 14 games of his freshman season, starting 10 of them. He began to emerge as a playmaker in the secondary late in the season, particularly after recording a pair of interceptions against USC.
In the 2016 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, Rapp intercepted back-to-back passes from Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau, returning one for a touchdown. His outstanding performance earned him the Pac-12 Championship Game MVP award. Following the season, he was named to multiple Freshman All-American teams, including USA Today, ESPN, Pro Football Focus, and the Football Writers Association of America. He was also recognized as the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.
Prior to his sophomore season, Rapp was named one of the 100 best players in college football by Sports Illustrated, ranking 39th on their list. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors for the 2017 season and was named to the Academic All-Pac-12 first team. He also gained acceptance into the University of Washington’s prestigious Foster School of Business. Prior to his junior season, he was named a first-team All-American by both the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated. On January 2, 2019, Rapp declared for the 2019 NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility.
Taylor Michael Rapp Career
Los Angeles Rams (2019–2022)
The Los Angeles Rams selected Rapp in the second round with the 61st overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Rams acquired the pick from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for their third and fifth-round selections. He became the highest-drafted player of Asian descent in NFL Draft history. On June 7, 2019, Rapp signed a four-year contract worth $4.67 million with $2.12 million guaranteed and a $1.41 million signing bonus.
Rapp entered training camp as a backup safety behind veterans Eric Weddle and John Johnson. He made his professional debut in the season-opener against the Carolina Panthers, recording eight combined tackles in the victory. After John Johnson was placed on injured reserve in October, Rapp was promoted to the starting lineup. He earned his first career start on October 20, 2019, against the Atlanta Falcons. On December 1, 2019, Rapp recorded his first career interception and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. He finished his rookie season with 100 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, three interceptions, one fumble recovery, and a touchdown in 15 games with ten starts.
Rising Role (2020–2021)
Entering the 2020 season, Rapp competed for a starting position after Eric Weddle retired. Head coach Sean McVay initially named John Johnson III and Jordan Fuller as the starting safeties, relegating Rapp to backup duty. He recorded a season-high eight combined tackles against the New York Giants in Week 4 and had an interception against the Chicago Bears in Week 8. A knee injury in November placed him on injured reserve, and he missed the final seven games of the season. He finished 2020 with 44 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception in nine games with five starts.
In 2021, after Brandon Staley departed to become head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Raheem Morris joined the Rams staff and held an open competition for the starting safety roles. McVay named Rapp the starting free safety alongside strong safety Jordan Fuller. On September 12, 2021, Rapp made his first career season-opener start and recorded ten combined tackles against the Chicago Bears. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording his first career sack and a career-high two interceptions against the New York Giants in Week 4. Rapp started all 17 games in 2021, finishing with 94 combined tackles, six pass deflections, 1.5 sacks, and a career-high four interceptions.
Super Bowl Championship (2022)
Rapp began the 2022 season as the starting strong safety under a new competition format. He recorded a season-high 12 combined tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12. On December 19, 2022, Rapp sealed a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders by intercepting quarterback Derek Carr in the final seconds. He finished the season with 92 combined tackles, six pass deflections, and two interceptions in 16 starts. The Rams finished first in the NFC West with a 12-5 record and made the playoffs. While Rapp was sidelined for the first three playoff games due to concussion protocol, he returned to start in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals, recording seven combined tackles as the Rams won 23-20, earning Rapp his first Super Bowl championship ring.
Buffalo Bills (2023–Present)
On March 31, 2023, the Buffalo Bills signed Rapp to a one-year contract worth $1.77 million with $1.65 million guaranteed. He entered training camp as the third option at safety behind starters Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. During the 2023 season, he was fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit against wide receiver Davante Adams in Week 2. A neck injury sustained against the New York Jets in Week 11 required him to be carted off the field in an ambulance, but he returned the following week.
On January 7, 2024, Rapp made a crucial interception against Tua Tagovailoa in the final seconds to seal a victory over the Miami Dolphins, helping the Bills clinch the AFC East division title. He finished the 2023 season with 50 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception in 16 games with four starts. The Bills finished 11-6 and advanced to the Divisional Round before being eliminated by the Kansas City Chiefs.
On March 8, 2024, the Bills re-signed Rapp to a three-year contract worth $10.62 million with $4.85 million guaranteed. Following the departures of longtime safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, Rapp was projected to earn a starting position. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich named Rapp and Damar Hamlin the starting safeties to begin the 2024 season. During Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens, Rapp suffered a concussion while tackling running back Derrick Henry. He returned in Week 7 and recorded a season-high three pass deflections against the Jets while wearing a guardian cap. On November 10, 2024, Rapp intercepted a pass by Joe Flacco against the Indianapolis Colts, followed by another interception against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs the following week. He finished the 2024 season with 82 combined tackles, six pass deflections, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 13 starts.
Playing Style and Strengths
Rapp is known for his versatility and football intelligence, demonstrating the ability to play multiple positions across the defensive backfield. His open-field tackling and run support are considered among his clearest strengths. Rapp combines physicality with instincts and awareness, allowing him to make plays both in coverage and near the line of scrimmage. His ability to create turnovers, whether through interceptions or forced fumbles, has been a consistent element throughout his professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rapp’s career has been marked by several significant moments. His first career interception returned for a touchdown came against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals in December 2019. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2021 after recording two interceptions against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants. Most notably, he earned a Super Bowl championship with the Los Angeles Rams in February 2022, becoming the highest-drafted player of Asian descent in NFL history. In January 2024, his clutch interception against the Miami Dolphins helped secure the AFC East title for the Buffalo Bills.
Taylor Michael Rapp Career Wins and Achievements
Rapp has accumulated significant achievements across his college and professional career. In college, he earned Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors and was named a consensus Freshman All-American in 2016. He was a two-time First-team All-Pac-12 selection and a Second-team All-American in 2018. Professionally, his highlight came with a Super Bowl LVI championship as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.
College Highlights
During his three seasons at Washington, Rapp appeared in 41 games with 38 starts, accumulating 264 career tackles, 14 interceptions, and 29 pass deflections. His signature college moment came in the 2016 Pac-12 Championship Game when he intercepted back-to-back passes and returned one for a touchdown, earning MVP honors of that game. He finished his college career as one of the most decorated safeties in Washington program history.
Professional Highlights
Through the 2024 season, Rapp has recorded 488 career regular-season tackles, 12 interceptions, 31 pass deflections, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles across his NFL career with the Rams and Bills. His 2021 season represented his best statistical year, with a career-high four interceptions and 94 tackles while starting all 17 games. His ability to make game-sealing plays, such as his Week 14 interception against Derek Carr in 2022 and his Week 18 interception against Tua Tagovailoa in 2023, has defined his professional reputation.
Taylor Michael Rapp Family
Family Background and Heritage
Rapp was born to a Chinese mother originally from Shanghai and a Caucasian father from Canada. His multicultural background has been significant in his journey, as he faced discrimination and racial taunting during his upbringing in Bellingham, Washington. Despite these challenges, his family supported his football ambitions and eventually relocated to provide better opportunities for their son’s athletic development.
Personal Life
Rapp began dating his high school sweetheart Dani Johnson in 2015 while attending Sehome High School together. After winning Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in February 2022, Rapp proposed to Johnson. They married in July 2022. The couple has maintained a relatively private personal life while Rapp continues his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season, Rapp continued his tenure with the Buffalo Bills as a key member of their defensive backfield. He started all six of his appearances, recording 26 combined tackles before suffering a significant injury. On October 24, 2025, Rapp was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury sustained during gameplay. Head coach Sean McDermott announced on October 31 that Rapp would likely miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery. On March 6, 2026, the Buffalo Bills released Rapp, bringing an end to his three-season tenure with the organization. Throughout his career, Rapp demonstrated resilience and durability, overcoming various injuries to remain an impactful player at the safety position.