Jason Myers Ethnicity: Filipino Heritage, Family & Background
Jason Myers’ ethnicity is Filipino American. The Seattle Seahawks kicker, born May 12, 1991, in Chula Vista, California, has proudly spoken about his Filipino heritage, which comes through his father’s side of the family — his great-grandfather emigrated from the Philippines and served in the U.S. Navy. Myers is one of the few Filipino American players in the NFL and has become a visible representative of the community at the highest level of American football.
Quick Answer: What Is Jason Myers’ Ethnicity?
Jason Myers is a Filipino American. His Filipino ancestry traces to his great-grandfather, who came to the United States from the Philippines through Pensacola, Florida, and served in the U.S. Navy — the starting point of the family’s life in America. Myers was born and raised in the San Diego area of California and holds American nationality. While his surname doesn’t sound Filipino, Myers has said he is proud to identify as Filipino: “I wish I would take more opportunity to dig into my Filipino roots, but I’m proud to say I am Filipino. It’s made me who I am.” In 2021, amid a rise in anti-Asian violence, he publicly described himself as “a person of Filipino descent” while standing in solidarity with the AAPI community.
Biography: Who Is Jason Myers?
Jason Myers is an American professional football placekicker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Born on May 12, 1991, in Chula Vista, California, he grew up in a sports-loving family in the San Diego area. His path to NFL stardom was anything but typical: after a standout high school career at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista — where he was named Mesa Kicker of the Year as a senior and South Bay Kicker of the Year as a junior — he played college football at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, from 2009 to 2012, handling both kicking and punting duties.
Despite his college production, Myers went undrafted. He has recalled, “I didn’t even get a sniff after college… I was very raw.” His professional journey began in the Arena Football League with the San Jose SaberCats and Arizona Rattlers before he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015. After two-plus seasons in Jacksonville, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets in 2018, where he had a breakout Pro Bowl season — making 33 of 36 field goals, setting a franchise record with seven field goals in a single game, and hitting an NFL-record five kicks from 55 yards or beyond.
Myers signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 and became one of the league’s most reliable kickers, earning a second Pro Bowl selection and twice finishing as the NFL’s scoring leader. His career reached its pinnacle in Super Bowl LX, where he set a Super Bowl record with five field goals and 17 total points in Seattle’s 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots — also becoming the first player in NFL history to score more than 200 points in a single season, finishing with 206. Entering his 12th NFL season in 2026, Myers stands as one of the greatest kickers of his generation and a rare Filipino American star in professional football.
Jason Myers’ Ethnic Background in Detail
Jason Myers’ Filipino heritage comes from his father’s side. His great-grandfather was a Filipino who immigrated to the United States, entering through Pensacola, Florida, and serving in the U.S. Navy. That military service became the foundation of the Myers family’s American story — a narrative familiar to many Filipino American families, given the Philippines’ deep historical ties to the U.S. Navy and the large Filipino American communities in Navy towns like San Diego, where Myers grew up.
Myers’ parents, Mary and Don Myers, raised him in Chula Vista, California, emphasizing work ethic and humility. While the exact ethnic composition of both parents has not been fully disclosed publicly, the documented Filipino lineage on his father’s side is the centerpiece of his heritage story. Myers himself has embraced the identity more openly as his career has progressed, particularly after becoming one of the NFL’s most recognizable kickers.
His visibility matters because Filipino Americans — and Asian Americans more broadly — remain rare in the NFL. Myers has spoken about that uniqueness: “It’s definitely a tiny little group when you get to pro sports. There’s some names where, you know, they don’t sound Filipino, but once you find out, it’s always met with a smile and a hug.” San Diego, his hometown region, is home to one of the largest Filipino American populations in the United States, giving his background an added resonance with local fans.
For readers interested in how athletes’ family backgrounds shape their stories, similar profiles include Kelly Ripken, the ex-wife of baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr., and Denika Kisty, the wife of former NBA star Jason Williams, which explore the family lives behind sports fame.
Family: Parents and Upbringing
Jason Myers was born to Mary and Don Myers in Chula Vista, California, and raised in the San Diego area alongside his family’s strong emphasis on sports and discipline. His great-grandfather’s journey from the Philippines to America via Navy service is the family’s foundational story — he passed away shortly before Jason was born, which is part of why Myers has expressed a wish to explore his Filipino roots more deeply.
At Mater Dei Catholic High School, Myers was a multi-sport athlete, excelling not only in football but also in soccer, where he won a state championship and earned San Diego Division IV CIF Player of the Year honors. That soccer background contributed to his powerful, accurate kicking leg. Even after establishing himself as an NFL star, Myers kept San Diego as his offseason base and has been involved in youth kicking instruction in Southern California, maintaining ties to the community that raised him.
Myers is known for a quiet, workmanlike approach to his career. He has never turned his heritage into branding, but he has also never hidden it — a balance that has made him a respected figure among Filipino American sports fans who rarely see themselves represented in the NFL.
Career Highlights and Records
Myers’ professional arc is a testament to persistence. After going undrafted out of Marist — a small FCS program — he worked with renowned kicking coach Michael Husted in 2014, refined his technique in the Arena Football League, and finally broke into the NFL with Jacksonville in 2015. His 2018 season with the Jets announced him as elite: a Pro Bowl nod, a franchise-record seven field goals in one game, and an NFL record five makes from 55-plus yards.
In Seattle, Myers became the model of consistency, converting clutch kicks in high-leverage moments and twice leading the league in scoring. The 2025 season was historic: he became the first player ever to top 200 points in a single NFL season (206 including playoffs), then capped it with a Super Bowl LX performance for the ages — five field goals, two extra points, 17 total points, all Super Bowl records for a kicker, in a 29-13 championship win over New England.
His Wikipedia biography documents the full statistical arc of a kicker who went from undrafted afterthought to record-holder — and one of the most prominent Filipino American athletes in American sports history.
Filipino American Representation in the NFL
Jason Myers’ prominence carries weight beyond his statistics because Filipino Americans remain significantly underrepresented in professional football. While the NFL has seen a growing number of players of Asian and Pacific Islander descent — including stars of Samoan, Tongan, and Korean heritage — Filipino American players are still rare enough that Myers can name the small circle from memory. His willingness to speak about his roots, from his “proud to say I am Filipino” remarks to his 2021 solidarity statement with the AAPI community, has made him a role model for young Filipino American athletes who rarely see themselves in the sport’s biggest moments. San Diego’s large Filipino community, in particular, has embraced him as a hometown hero whose success validates their place in American sports culture. As Myers himself put it, discovering a fellow Filipino in pro sports “is always met with a smile and a hug” — a small comment that captures how much representation matters to communities still fighting for visibility.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jason Myers |
| Date of Birth | May 12, 1991 |
| Place of Birth | Chula Vista, California, USA |
| Ethnicity | Filipino American |
| Nationality | American |
| Team | Seattle Seahawks (Kicker) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jason Myers’ ethnicity?
Jason Myers is Filipino American. His Filipino heritage comes through his father’s side — his great-grandfather emigrated from the Philippines and served in the U.S. Navy. Myers has publicly and proudly identified as Filipino throughout his NFL career.
Where was Jason Myers born?
He was born on May 12, 1991, in Chula Vista, California, in the San Diego area, where he was also raised and attended Mater Dei Catholic High School.
Who are Jason Myers’ parents?
His parents are Mary and Don Myers, who raised him in California with an emphasis on work ethic and humility. His great-grandfather’s immigration from the Philippines is the family’s foundational heritage story.
What records does Jason Myers hold?
Myers holds the Super Bowl record for most field goals in a game (five) and most points by a kicker (17), both set in Super Bowl LX. He is also the first player in NFL history to score more than 200 points in a single season (206).
Is Jason Myers one of the few Filipino players in the NFL?
Yes. Filipino Americans remain rare in the NFL, and Myers has acknowledged this, noting that discovering another Filipino player in pro sports “is always met with a smile and a hug.” His success has made him a visible representative of the Filipino American community in football.
She holds advanced qualifications in Sociology, Anthropology, and Ethnic Studies, fields that focus on human cultures, traditions, migration patterns, and identity development across the world. Her expertise allows her to break down complex cultural topics into easy-to-understand articles that readers genuinely enjoy.
Over the years, Milana has researched hundreds of public figures, communities, and global ethnic groups, making her a trusted voice in the ethnicity niche. Her writing combines factual research, historical understanding, and modern cultural analysis to ensure every article is informative, reliable, and reader-friendly.
Her work focuses on:
* Ethnicity and ancestry research
* Cultural identity and heritage
* Nationality and family background
* Celebrity ethnicity breakdowns
* Global traditions and multicultural studies
Milana’s goal is to provide readers with authentic, well-researched, and trustworthy information while celebrating the diversity of cultures around the world. Through her detailed research and passion for cultural education, she continues to help audiences better understand ethnicity, heritage, and identity in today’s connected world.
- Larry Ellison Ethnicity: Jewish Mother and Italian Father - October 6, 2026
- Charlie Heaton Ethnicity: Nationality, Parents & Background - October 6, 2026
- Hilaria Baldwin Ethnicity: Heritage, Parents & Background Explained - October 6, 2026
