Super Bowl LVIII: Asian-American and Pacific Islanders make their mark in NFL, despite being deemed ‘not right minority’
- Two-thirds of all NFL players are from minority groups, but Pacific Islanders account for only 1.8 per cent, and Asian players 0.1 per cent
- In the NFL next season, there will be nine coaches of colour, the most in the league’s history. But none are Asian or Pacific Islander
One might think rookie Nikko Remigio would be fielding all kinds of questions on making it to the Super Bowl in his first pro season. But leading up to Sunday’s game in Las Vegas, his family in the Philippines have asked more about Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
Why haven’t they asked for anything, not even Kansas City Chiefs merchandise? The 24-year-old wide receiver’s new level of visibility already feels like a prize.
“One of the big things not only for me – but I know for my dad and his sisters, and my grandma and grandpa – is just people being able to pronounce our last name the right way,” said Remigio.
Representation, he said, is more valuable than money or any material objects.
Remigio has been on his team’s reserve/injured list since August and makes a much-anticipated return to the field this weekend.
Historically, Asian Americans have been stereotyped as more brains than brawn or treated as foreigners in US sports. But for nearly a century, they have had a presence on the NFL field.
