Not your average NFL story: Fil-Am Camryn Bynum is a player with a heart
Photo from Twitter/Cal Athletics Fund
Aside from his prowess in football, Filipino-American Camryn Bynum, who is gearing up for NFL’s new season with the Minnesota Vikings, also has a golden heart.
In an interview, Bynum shared his thoughts on the upcoming season. “I’m glad it’s here. We’re finally able to have a game plan against somebody and not go against our own team. I can’t wait, and I know it’s going to be fun to start the season.”
Drafted in the fourth round in 2021, Bynum became the Vikings’ full-time starter halfway through his first year, and that’s just where this gridiron tale starts.
Last year, after a match with the Jets, Bynum stood proud with the Philippine flag draped over him. At 25, this Southern California-born and raised NFL player is one of the few Filipino-Americans playing in the league.
In addition, Bynum’s mother, Jennifer, is a third-generation Filipino-American who grew up in San Francisco.
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From underdog to impact player
They say dynamite comes in small packages and Bynum is proof of that. Back in his freshman year at the University of California, Berkeley, he tipped the scales at 180 pounds and was deemed “undersized” for football.
But after a year of some serious bulking up, he transformed into the strong player he is now. With his records of 58 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 8 passes defended when he played for the Golden Bears, he caught the attention of the Vikings, which eventually drafted him in the fourth round, 125th overall, in 2021.
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Camryn Bynum, during his off-season
While he gives his best on the field, he’s also a champ off the field. During the off-season, he’s a jet setter dividing his time between the Philippines and the US.
In his hometown of Corona, California, he hosted a back-to-school event that warmed hearts. Across the Pacific, his Bynum Faith Foundation, a non-profit providing help to struggling communities in the Philippines and the US, has extended its kindness to an orphanage in Baybay, Leyte, last July.
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But here’s another bonus to Bynum’s mission: He also aims to popularize American football in the Philippines. He’s hosted youth camps and believes in the potential of fellow Filipinos to excel in this sport and not just basketball.
A force in the NFL league and a beacon of hope in communities, Camryn Bynum is a game changer in more ways than one. Hats off to you, Bynum.
