Jordan Mailata had never played organized football before 2018. By 2025, he became a Super Bowl champion and the highest-graded offensive player in the NFL. His transformation from Australian rugby league player to elite left tackle defies every conventional path to professional football.
You’re about to discover how Mailata went from rejecting a $5,000 rugby contract to earning millions protecting one of the NFL’s most valuable quarterbacks. This is the complete story of an unprecedented journey that changed what we thought was possible in professional sports.
How Jordan Mailata Entered the NFL
Mailata joined professional football through the International Player Pathway Program in 2017. The IPP started in 2017 to provide athletes from outside the United States with opportunities to earn NFL roster spots. He trained at IMG Academy in Florida for three months before the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected him 233rd overall in the seventh round. Scouts gave him a developmental grade because he possessed zero football experience. His background came entirely from rugby league, where he played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ reserve grade team.
The Rabbitohs offered Mailata a one-year contract worth 5,000 Australian dollars, but the coaching staff questioned whether he could maintain the pace of professional rugby league. His agent suggested trying a sport that valued his size more than his conditioning.
At 6-foot-8 and 365 pounds, Mailata fit the physical profile NFL teams seek in offensive linemen. But size alone doesn’t translate to success. Thousands of athletes with similar measurements never make practice squads, let alone starting rosters.
The 2024 Season That Changed Everything
Mailata’s 2024 performance established him as the best offensive lineman in football. He finished with a 95.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest among all offensive players. His run-blocking grade of 94.9 led every offensive lineman in the league.
Mailata was the only offensive tackle to achieve 90.0-plus grades in both pass blocking and run blocking during 2024. Across 406 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed just one sack and 13 pressures total.
His performance directly contributed to Saquon Barkley’s historic season. Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards during the regular season, becoming the ninth player in NFL history to reach 2,000 rushing yards. The Eagles’ offensive line, anchored by Mailata, created running lanes that helped Philadelphia set records.
Pro Football Focus’s wins above replacement metric ranked Mailata as the most valuable offensive lineman in the NFL for 2024. This measurement compares a player’s contribution against what a replacement-level player would provide in the same role.
Despite this performance, Mailata didn’t make the Pro Bowl roster. He did earn second-team All-Pro honors, recognition from coaches and media members who vote on season-ending awards.
Super Bowl LIX Victory
The Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025. Mailata started at left tackle, protecting Jalen Hurts’ blind side throughout the championship game.
This victory made Mailata the first Australian to start and play in a winning Super Bowl. Jesse Williams won Super Bowl XLVIII with Seattle in 2014 but was on injured reserve and didn’t play.
Seven years separated Mailata’s first day in football pads from his Super Bowl ring. Most NFL players spend 15-20 years developing their skills from youth leagues through college before reaching professional football. Mailata compressed that timeline while competing against athletes who started training as children.
The Eagles’ offensive line performance in Super Bowl LIX reflected months of preparation. Jeff Stoutland, Philadelphia’s offensive line coach, has worked with Mailata since 2018. Their relationship extends beyond typical coach-player dynamics into mentorship territory.
The Jeff Stoutland Factor
Stoutland transformed Mailata from raw athletic talent into technical precision. The coach teaches footwork, hand placement, leverage points, and reading defensive schemes. Mailata needed to learn everything simultaneously while preparing for NFL-level competition.
Mailata frequently describes himself as a “wrecking ball” when discussing his playing style. This approach combines his rugby physicality with football technique. He uses power and momentum to move defenders, creating space for running backs.
Lane Johnson, Philadelphia’s right tackle, forms the other half of what many analysts consider the NFL’s best tackle duo. Johnson brings veteran experience and Pro Bowl pedigree. Mailata brings physical dominance and continuous improvement.
The partnership works because both tackles excel in different aspects of line play. Johnson’s pass protection ranks among the league’s elite. Mailata’s run blocking creates massive holes in defensive fronts.
The Rugby Background
Mailata grew up in Bankstown, a Sydney suburb with large Samoan and Polynesian communities. His parents immigrated to Australia from Samoa, and his mother came from New Zealand. Rugby league dominated the local sports culture.
In 2014, Mailata fainted during a pre-season training session one week before his first scheduled game in the SG Ball Cup, an Under-18 rugby league competition. Medical tests revealed he needed surgery on both chambers of his heart.
The procedure sidelined him for over a year. During recovery, Mailata’s weight increased from 147 kilograms to 166 kilograms. This weight gain, roughly 42 pounds, concerned rugby scouts about his conditioning.
After returning to rugby, he played for Five Dock RSL Junior Rugby League. His size and athleticism attracted attention from professional scouts, leading to the South Sydney Rabbitohs contract offer he ultimately declined.
Contract and Financial Security
On September 11, 2021, Mailata signed a four-year, $64 million contract with $40.85 million guaranteed. This deal came after he proved himself as the Eagles’ starting left tackle during the 2021 season.
On April 4, 2024, he signed a three-year, $66 million extension, including $48 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus. The extension keeps him in Philadelphia through 2028.
This extension placed him behind only Laremy Tunsil, Trent Williams, and Andrew Thomas among the NFL’s highest-paid offensive tackles. For context, Mailata went from considering a $5,000 rugby contract to earning over $130 million in NFL contracts within seven years.
His financial journey mirrors his athletic transformation. Both required taking calculated risks on uncertain outcomes. The IPP program gave him exposure to NFL teams. His physical tools gave him potential. His work ethic made him elite.
The Singing Career
Mailata’s off-field personality differs dramatically from his on-field intensity. He possesses genuine singing talent that has become part of his public identity.
During the 2022 offseason, Mailata formed The Philly Specials with teammates Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. The trio recorded three Christmas albums between 2022 and 2024.
Their albums raised millions of dollars for local Philadelphia charities, with Operation Snowball providing gifts to every student in the Philadelphia public school system in 2024. The project combined entertainment with community impact.
In 2022, Mailata competed on season 7 of The Masked Singer as “Thingamabob”. His appearance introduced him to audiences who don’t follow football. It showcased his personality beyond the athletic persona.
The singing career doesn’t distract from football preparation. It demonstrates Mailata’s comfort with public attention and his willingness to use the platform for charitable causes. Many professional athletes separate their personal interests from their sport entirely.
Impact as an International Player
Since the IPP program began in 2017, 37 athletes have signed with NFL teams, and 18 currently occupy league rosters. Mailata represents the program’s biggest success story by a significant margin.
His achievement opens doors for future international players. NFL teams now view the IPP program as a legitimate talent pipeline rather than an experimental initiative. Scouts attend international combines searching for the next Mailata-level prospect.
The NFL scheduled its first game in Australia for 2026. Mailata’s presence in Philadelphia makes him the natural ambassador for growing football in his home country. His story proves Americans don’t hold a monopoly on football excellence.
Australia produces elite athletes across multiple sports. Rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football, and cricket all compete for the same athletic talent pool. Mailata’s success shows young Australians they can pursue NFL careers without traditional American football backgrounds.
Why This Journey Matters
Mailata’s transformation challenges assumptions about athlete development. The traditional path requires:
- Youth football experience (ages 6-14)
- High school varsity competition (ages 14-18)
- College football programs (ages 18-22)
- NFL draft eligibility (age 22+)
This progression takes 15+ years of continuous football participation. Mailata compressed it into months, not years.
His success doesn’t invalidate traditional development. It expands our understanding of what’s possible with elite athleticism, dedicated coaching, and a relentless work ethic.
Professional sports increasingly value raw athletic ability combined with sport-specific training. Basketball has international stars who learned the game later than their American counterparts. Soccer has players who switched positions dramatically and succeeded.
Football’s complexity makes late entries more difficult. Playbooks contain hundreds of plays. Offensive linemen must recognize defensive schemes instantly. The physical demands require years of strength training and technique work.
Yet Mailata mastered these challenges while competing at the highest level. His story isn’t just about individual achievement. It demonstrates how opportunity, talent, and coaching converge to create excellence.
What’s Next for Mailata
At 27 years old, Mailata is signed through 2028 and shows no signs of declining performance. His 2024 season represents his peak so far, but offensive linemen typically perform at elite levels into their early 30s.
The Eagles built their offense around a dominant offensive line. Mailata and Lane Johnson protect Jalen Hurts while creating rushing lanes for Saquon Barkley. This formula won them a Super Bowl and positioned them for sustained success.
Philadelphia’s championship window remains open as long as this offensive line stays healthy. Mailata’s presence as a team captain demonstrates his leadership extends beyond physical performance.
His journey from Sydney to Super Bowl champion spans just seven years, but his impact will last decades. Every international player who enters the NFL through the IPP program follows the path Mailata pioneered.
You’ve seen how one person’s refusal to accept limitations created opportunities for thousands of future athletes. Mailata didn’t just change his own life. He changed what’s possible in professional football.