Jordan Mailata has become the first Australian to play in and win a Super Bowl, helping the Philadelphia Eagles dominate Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
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In the process the offensive lineman, who played rugby league for the Bulldogs’ under-18 team and Rabbitohs’ under-20 team before being picked up in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, completed a fairytale rise to the NFL’s mountain top.
He could be seen proudly holding up an Australian flag behind the Lombardi Trophy presentation.
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“Think about all the kids back in Australia,” commentator Dan Orlovsky said on ESPN.
“Now, you might not be gifted with the God-given ability to be six (foot), nine (inches), 350 pounds and move like that.
“But for a guy to come from that area, come over here and have the career that he has, it does give hope to a young kid that maybe says, ‘I want to be the next Jordan Mailata’.”
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The 27-year-old knew nothing about American football when he joined the International Player Pathway Program, only watching the Super Bowl each year.
But with training from legendary line coach Jeff Stoutland, Mailata has emerged as a genuine weapon both in the running game and in pass blocking.
Last April he signed a three-year extension worth $100 million running until the end of 2028, adding to his existing $24 million a year deal.
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Mailata has now become a leader for the Eagles, heading out for the coin toss with the other team captains. And he had a major pre-game impact, as Fox insider Jay Glazer told the Super Bowl broadcast about what went down with the Eagles before the clash with the Chiefs.
“All the team leaders got up. The captains got up and they spoke,” Glazer said on Fox.
“And the two messages were: Number one — man, we had such a great time together this year. We don’t want it to end. We went through so many ups and downs together. This brotherhood was so great. Jordan Mailata actually grabbed the podium, shaking it and said ‘One more!’ and that was the other thing.”
Glazer said it had been a “wild meeting” to see.
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Mailata was called into action immediately with the Eagles offence starting with the ball, and his blocking was on-point on two successful plays for Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts.
“Jordan Mailata has been critical in the first two plays for Philadelphia,” former Super Bowl punter Ben Graham said on SEN.
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Meanwhile ex-ESPN host Trey Wingo praised him and his fellow linemen for their pass protection, tweeting: “Eagles OL giving Hurts all the time in the world.”
ESPN’s Louis Riddick raved: “Look at some of the work some of this offensive line does.
“They just move people, that time Jordan Mailata.
“Jordan Mailata, again just taking his man and displacing him two yards off the line of scrimmage. He just covers him up, it’s like its just become night-time. He just blocks out everything.
“The physical and mental exertion you have to undergo playing against this offence, it’s unbelievable.”
Dan Orlovsky added: “He (Jason Kelce) was saying Jordan is such a phenomenal athlete but so often the offensive lineman is doing the most unathletic stuff. The feet and the way you’ve got to move your body.
“That’s part of the reason why it did take some time. He’s such a gifted athlete, he had to learn some of the nuances and technique offensive line wise.”
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The Aussie helped pick up a blitz – though Saquon Barkley’s pass blocking was even more impressive – as the Eagles got down to the one yard line on their second drive through former draft disappointment Jahan Dotson, setting up the inevitable Tush Push.
Hurts was shoved over the goalline for the opening score of the game.
It was Hurts’ record-extending 10th career playoff rushing touchdown.
Chiefs fans began pointing out on social media that Mailata was lining up well behind the line of scrimmage on certain plays.
It could have been a breach of offensive rules for an illegal formation with some suggesting he was standing further back on passing plays to get an advantage.
NFL teams must have at least seven players on the line of scrimmage at the snap.
It wasn’t called at any point and the Eagles powered their way to a 24-0 lead at halftime, the second-largest lead at the break in Super Bowl history.
They got out as far as 34-0 before the Chiefs avoided the first shutout ever in a Super Bowl via a late third-quarter touchdown.
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HOW MANY AUSSIES HAVE PLAYED IN THE SUPER BOWL?
Coming into Super Bowl 59, four Australians have played in the Super Bowl, and one Aussie has a Super Bowl ring, but none have played in a win.
AFL star turned punter Ben Graham, with the Arizona Cardinals, was the first Aussie to play in a Super Bowl around two decades ago.
Defensive lineman Jesse Williams did not play but was credited with a Super Bowl title with the Seattle Seahawks about a decade later.
Two Aussies, Jordan Mailata and punter Arryn Siposs, played in Super Bowl 57 for the Eagles while compatriot Mitch Wishnowsky played in Super Bowl 58 for the San Francisco 49ers.
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