Since selecting Jordan Mailata in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles have slowly turned the former Australian rugby player into one of the league's rising talents on the offensive line.
Much of the credit for Mailata's transformation goes to Jeff Stoutland, the Eagles' offensive line coach since 2013.
During the "Sunday Night Football" player's intros, ahead of the Eagles' battle against the Dallas Cowboys, Mailata gave his o-line coach a little shoutout.
Since Mailata didn't play collegiate football, he claimed to hail from "Jeff Stoutland University."
Jeff Stoutland University pic.twitter.com/mV1aciWbDv
— Shane Haff (@HAFFnHAFF_TPL) October 17, 2022
Playing the part of an eager student, Mailiata has grown quite close to Stoutland, whose coaching career spans five decades. Ahead of last season, rumors swirled that the 60-year-old Stoutland was mulling retirement. While Stoutland ultimately decided to return, Mailata said he "almost had a heart attack" when he heard his coach might step away from the game, adding, "he's like my dad."
Mailata started his 29th career game at tackle for the Eagles Sunday against the Cowboys, making up an essential piece of Philly's impressive offensive line.
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