Despite being one of the NFL’s top-paid left tackles, Jordan Mailata remains underappreciated in New Zealand sports circles.
Born to Kiwi parents in Australia, the 2.03m, 166kg Philadelphia Eagles star initially pursued rugby league before a heart condition derailed his career.
Switching to American football through the NFL’s International Player Pathway, he defied the odds by becoming a key figure in one of the league’s best offensive lines.
Now, Mailata is set to play in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, aiming to become the second Kiwi—and second Australian—to win a championship ring.
