As the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their Super Bowl victory, Jordan Mailata made his way into the media room at the Superdome. One of his teammates draped an Australian flag over his shoulders, marking a historic moment for the towering offensive lineman.
The Kansas City Chiefs had aimed to secure an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl win in New Orleans. Instead, it was Mailata who made history, becoming the first Australian to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy. His journey to the NFL was anything but conventional—he had never played a single down of American football when the Eagles drafted him in 2018.
Growing up in Australia, Mailata played rugby league and trained with the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ academy while juggling various jobs, including construction, demolition, and working at Woolworths, to make ends meet. Reflecting on those years, he admitted that the grueling routine of early morning shifts followed by intense training helped shape his resilience and work ethic, easing his transition into the NFL.
Mailata’s size 6ft 8in and 365lbs (166kg) prompted someone to suggest he try a sport that would better suit his frame. In 2018, he joined the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program, designed to help athletes from non-traditional backgrounds break into the league. Former rugby player Christian Scotland-Williamson, who trained alongside him, was immediately struck by Mailata’s agility and speed.
Word of Mailata’s potential reached Eagles executive Howie Roseman, who persuaded offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland to evaluate him. Initially skeptical, Stoutland was stunned by Mailata’s natural ability and athleticism, prompting the Eagles to select him as the 233rd pick in the 2018 draft.
Mailata spent two years on the Eagles’ practice squad before making his NFL debut in 2020. Over time, he developed into one of the league’s top offensive tackles, anchoring the Eagles’ formidable offensive line. He played in his first Super Bowl in 2023, where the Eagles fell short against the Chiefs, but this time, he was on the winning side.
Having signed a three-year, $66 million contract extension in 2023, Mailata plays a crucial role in protecting quarterback Jalen Hurts and creating space for running back Saquon Barkley. After the game, Mailata humbly acknowledged his role in Barkley’s record-breaking season, joking that perhaps it wasn’t “all Saquon” after all.
Despite his success, Mailata remains grounded and full of personality. Those who trained with him remember his love for singing a passion that even led him to compete on ‘The Masked Singer’. His former coaches and teammates admire not just his talent but his infectious enthusiasm and resilience.
Now a Super Bowl champion, Mailata’s remarkable journey is inspiring aspiring international players looking to make the leap into the NFL. His advice? “Believe in yourself and find someone who believes in you.”
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