Jordan Mailata is one of the most important pieces on arguably the best offensive line in football. The Philadelphia Eagles left tackle has certainly made a name for himself since being drafted in the seventh round back in 2018.
But who was Mailata before becoming one of the best tackles in the NFL? This is the unique story of the unlikeliest of football stars.
Jordan Mailata: The Rugby Star
Born on March 31, 1997, in Bankstown, Australia, Mailata grew up playing rugby. He is of Samoan descent and was raised in a working-class family along with his five siblings.
Mailata’s rugby career began in his hometown of Bankstown, where he played for the love of the game because it was less about glory and more about survival.
“I had to pay my way to fund rugby as well because I wasn’t getting paid much rugby. I was getting $200 for a win and $100 for a loss,” Mailata said on a podcast appearance with the Kelce brothers.
At a towering 6’8″ and 365 pounds, Mailata was an imposing figure on the rugby field, moving with surprising agility for his size. However, at the young age of 17, his rugby career came to a halt when he collapsed during a training session.
Mailata was later diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition that affects the heart. Doctors recommended he stop playing the sport he loved, forcing him to look for a new path.
Mailata’s Unprecedented Journey to the NFL
After stepping away from rugby, Mailata took a job on a demolitions crew to make ends meet. But everything changed when his agent, Chris Orr, got him a tryout for the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPPP).
Mailata’s size and agility caught the attention of scouts, and he decided to give football a shot. Despite never having played American football or knowing the basics of the game, the chance at a life-changing opportunity was too good to pass up.
In 2018, Mailata earned a spot in the IPPP and worked harder than ever to learn the game of football. His rapid progress impressed scouts across the NFL, though teams remained skeptical about drafting someone who had never played an actual football game.
Ultimately, Mailata’s passion and work ethic convinced the Eagles to take a chance on him, selecting him with pick No. 233 overall in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Mailata’s selection was groundbreaking for the IPPP, as he became one of the first players to transition directly from rugby to the NFL without prior football experience.
Mailata Becomes an All-Pro
Mailata did not play a snap in his first two years as he learned how to play the tackle position at an NFL-caliber level. Yet, in 2020, he made the starting lineup and instantly waves around the Eagles organization.
Mailata became a star in no time, to which he credits Jeff Stoutland, the team’s offensive line coach.
In 2021, Mailata had proved he was a force in the trenches, and the Eagles rewarded him as such — signing a four-year deal worth $64 million. Then, in 2024, Mailata agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $66 million, which also included a signing bonus that awarded him $20 million. That same year, he earned second-team All-Pro honors, his first such recognition but almost certainly not his last.
Mailata’s unlikely rise to NFL stardom continues to inspire kids around the world who dream of playing in the league. His journey is a testament to dedication, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles.
From battling a life-threatening health condition to learning an entirely new sport at the highest level, Mailata has shown that no dream is too big. Today, he no longer plays to survive — he plays to inspire.
