Roger Goodell & Co is looking to expand its reach and find new talent in unexpected places. Inspired by the success of Jordan Mailata, an Australian rugby player turned NFL star, the league is launching a new academy in Australia. Mailata’s journey from rugby league in New South Wales to becoming a standout offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles has shown the potential of Australian athletes in NFLA.

Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s head of international affairs, confirmed that Australia is among the markets the league is considering for international games in the future. 

Roger Goodell’s latest initiative

O’Reilly said in the Spring League Meeting, “Australia is among a set, and it’s not a small set of markets, that we’re looking at. We’ve got a great fanbase there, great media partners. We have two clubs as you know, in the Eagles and the Rams. We have global market rights there.” He further added, “When you start to talk about Asia, Pacific and Australia, you talk about distance and logistics and the football component of that. So those factors are real. But our role is to really look at the globe, look at where the fan base is strong and do the diligence, make the evaluations.“ Ian Rapoport has further confirmed this news on X today.

The NFL Academy in Australia is set to open in September on the Gold Coast. With Australia’s rich sporting culture and growing interest in American football, the academy has the potential to uncover hidden talent and contribute to the global growth of the sport from the Asia-Pacific region. 

With Australia among the countries being considered for international games, how Jordan Mailata’s success story has inspired the NFL?

Jordan Mailata’s inspiring journey

The hulking Australian, Jordan Mailata now 25, never imagined he would be playing in a Super Bowl when he was working odd jobs to make ends meet between rugby matches. Reflecting on his journey, Mailata humorously remarked, “I’d probably say: ‘What shrooms are you taking because I don’t know what the Super Bowl is? You’re talking about that concert at halftime?’“ 

Born in Sydney, Jordan’s first love was rugby league. Despite facing setbacks, including a heart condition that required surgery, Jordan remained determined to pursue his passion. When his rugby career hit a roadblock, he seized the opportunity in the NFL. In 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Mailata. His dedication and hard work paid off when he made his NFL debut in 2020, pretty soon earning a starting position on the Eagles’ offensive line.

As Jordan competed in the Super Bowl in 2023 and became the first Australian to play super bowl, he remained humble and grateful for the opportunity. He said, “My dreams only started five years ago. All these guys that I play with, my brothers, they’ve been dreaming about this since they were kids. And for me, I’m living with them and through them. Just enjoying the moment and taking everything in.”

With the establishment of the new academy, aspiring athletes from the Asia-Pacific region will have the chance to follow in Mailata’s footsteps and pursue their dreams in American football.