Jordan Mailata is here to stay in Philadelphia! The offensive tackle has been with the Eagles ever since his draft in 2018 and will continue to do so for at least three more years. The seventh-round pick Aussie subverted all expectations of being the underdog and emerged as the fourth highest-paid OT in the NFL.

Mailata signed a three-year extension deal reportedly worth $66 million this week, as per ESPN. The human “wrecking ball” will start his seventh season with the Eagles and recently opened up about his thoughts on the extension in a recent press conference. The question focused on Mailata’s feelings about joining the Eagles’ legacy.

Bound to spend ten years with the franchise, Mailata started by expressing his gratitude,“First and foremost, it’s an honor to be even, you know, be able to play at one club.” The OT further shared how he always wished to be a part of one team consistently throughout his career, and having finally achieved that is an “honor” to him.

“You know, I’ve always wanted to be a player that’s played for one team and one team only for their career, and -there’re some few who get to do that. And so, you know, be a part of history and be a part of the club, and the culture we trynna continue to build- is an honor”

Looking at the professional league player, answering the media’s questions calmly, it’s hard to believe that just seven years prior, Mailata had flown in from Australia to try his luck in football without even knowing how to put on the helmet!

Jordan Mailata and his incredible underdog story

Mailata’s story is truly an inspiration! From a former Australian rugby player who’d never played football prior to signing one of the most expensive OT deals in the league, his journey is something Louis Rees Zammit can take notes about. The IPP product became the first non-college student to be drafted and learned everything about the sport from the Eagles offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland.

Mailata’s size, which became a hindrance in the National Rugby League, proved to be his selling point in the  NFL and kick started his football career.  The seventh-round pick was no better than a kid when it came to football knowledge while joining the Philadelphia Eagles. Fast forward seven years later, the OT is signing multimillion extensions with the team that groomed him into the player he is today.

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While at one point, as stated by Brenden Deeg, Mailata started as someone who “didn’t know how to put on a football helmet,” he has come a long way to become a professional with top-5 tackle in the league and has signed contracts worth millions. No one would have imagined that a bulky rugby player with zero knowledge of American football would have made a brand for himself in just seven years.

The only thing larger than his 6’8” 365 pounds stature is Jordan Mailata’s personality, which initially charmed the Eagles scouts and, eventually, the NFL fandom.

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