From a heart surgery survivor to a Super Bowl champion
In short: In 2014, Jordan Mailata fainted during training, requiring surgery on both chambers of his heart. Years later, the man once told to find a sport that 'appreciates his size' would stand on the world's biggest stage as an NFL superstar.
Jordan Mailata’s path to professional American football was anything but linear. Growing up in Bankstown, Australia, Mailata was a rugby league player for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' Under-18s. However, his career was nearly derailed in 2014 when a pre-season training incident forced him to undergo surgery to repair the upper and lower chambers of his heart. During a subsequent year-long hiatus, his weight increased from 147 kilograms to 166 kilograms.
Transitioning from rugby league to the NFL required more than just physical adaptation; it required a complete reinvention. After being advised by his agency to find a sport better suited to his massive 6-foot-8 frame, Mailata joined the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. Despite having no previous experience with American football and describing the complex playbook as a 'different language,' he used his extraordinary physical traits—including a 5.12-second 40-yard dash—to catch the eye of Philadelphia Eagles scouts.
The transformation culminated in a historic victory. After being selected 233rd overall in the 2018 NFL draft, Mailata overcame early injury setbacks and the steep learning curve of a new sport. In 2025, he played an integral role in the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX victory, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40–22. He became the first Australian player to both win a Super Bowl and actually start in the game, cementing his status as a premier offensive tackle in the league.
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