Bynum grew up in Corona, California and attended Centennial High School. He was initially considered undersized as a football player and did not play on the varsity team until his junior year.[1] As a senior, Bynum recorded 70 tackles and nine passes defended.[2]
After redshirting his true freshman season,[5] Bynum became a starter during his redshirt freshman season and finished the year with 58 tackles, eight passes broken up and two interceptions and was named Cal's Most Valuable Freshman.[6] Bynum recorded 48 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss with 12 passes broken up and two interceptions as a redshirt sophomore.[7][8] As a redshirt junior, Bynum recorded 63 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one interception, and nine passes broken up and was named second-team All-Pac-12 Conference.[9][10] Following the announcement that Pac-12 would postpone the 2020 season, Bynum announced that he would opt out of the season in order to focus on preparing for the 2021 NFL draft.[11] Bynum reversed his decision to opt out after the Pac-12 announced that they would resume fall football.[12]
Bynum was the only Golden Bear to start in all 42 games from 2017 to 2020, starting every game at cornerback. He graduated from UC Berkeley in December 2020 with a degree in business.[13]
The Minnesota Vikings selected Bynum in the fourth round (125th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. General manager Rick Spielman announced the Vikings selection of Bynum and declared him as a safety. The Minnesota Vikings acquired the fourth round pick (125th overall) used to draft Bynum in a trade with the Chicago Bears for a fifth round (155th overall) pick during the 2020 NFL Draft. He was the fifth safety drafted in 2021.[17][18]
On May 14, 2021, the Minnesota Vikings signed Bynum to a four-year, $4.19 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $717,812.[19]
Throughout training camp, Bynum continued to show promise during his transition to safety and competed to be the starting free safety against Xavier Woods.[20] Head coach Mike Zimmer named Bynum as the backup free safety to start the season, behind Xavier Woods.[21]
On September 12, 2021, Bynum made his regular season debut in a 24–27 overtime loss at the Cincinnati Bengals and had two solo tackles.[22] On December 8, 2021, Bynum earned his first career start in place of Harrison Smith who was inactive in Week 9 due to COVID-19. Bynum made a season-high 12 combined tackles (eight solo), one pass deflection, and had his first career interception when Lamar Jackson attempted to throw a pass to tight end Mark Andrews and returned it for 27-yards in the second quarter of a 31–34 overtime loss at the Baltimore Ravens.[23] The following week, he recorded six combined tackles (five solo), deflected a pass, and made his first career sack on Justin Herbert for a 7-yard loss in the Vikings' 27–20 victory at the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10.[24] Bynum was inactive for two games (Weeks 12–13) after suffering an ankle injury. He was inactive in Week 18 due to COVID-19 as the Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears 31–19.[25]
In Week 7 of the 2023 season, Bynum recorded nine tackles and two interceptions in a 22–17 win over the 49ers, earning National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week.[28]
Personal life
Bynum is of Filipino descent through his mother and African descent through his father. His maternal great-grandmother traced her roots to Leyte.[29] On March 2, 2023, Bynum got married in an intimate wedding in the Philippines.[30] Bynum is a Christian.[31]
