Mailata Inspiring a Generation of Aussie Football Fans

Jordan Mailata’s journey from Australian rugby to the National Football League (NFL) is a truly inspirational sports story.

The 27-year-old has developed a pivotal player for the Philadelphia Eagles, and his experiences are having a major impact in his homeland.

Mailata recently travelled to Australia and shared his remarkable journey with a group of wide-eyed children attending an NFL Flag Football event in Sydney.

He encouraged the youngsters to follow their dreams with passion and determination. His words were not empty regurgitated catchphrases. Mailata knows what it means to pursue a dream.

Growing the Game in Australia

The initiative by the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles is designed to promote American Football in Ghana, Australia and New Zealand. The Eagles have marketing rights in these regions.

The NFL has accrued over a million fans and counting in Australia over the past year, and Mailata is playing a crucial role in selling the brand.

The Bankstown-born star is the face of the NFL in Australia and a living example of what is possible through relentless hard work and unyielding dedication to any craft.

Mailata participated in several events throughout his two-week stay, attending corporate functions in Sydney and Melbourne.

His story is one which many Australians can relate to as it mirrors the country’s sports culture – one where hard work, determination and humility are the core tenets.

Mailata hopes he can inspire a new generation of young Australian athletes to pursue their dreams like him – in the NFL or any other sport.

Opening a New Chapter with the Eagles

The Australian has been unable to escape questions about the disappointing end to the 2023 season for the Eagles.

They started the campaign strongly and looked like the best team in the National Football Conference (NFC).

However, they lost five of their last six regular season fixtures before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sent them packing from the play-offs following a timid display.

It was quite the anti-climax for a team had qualified for the Super Bowl the previous year. Mailata played every one of their 1,147 offensive snaps in 2023. The end of the season was particularly frustrating for him.

“I am goddamn tired of talking about last year,” Mailata said. “I’m tired. I’ll be honest. I’m looking forward. We can only learn so much from last year, and we learned a lot.

Mailata is desperately keen to close the 2023 chapter and mount a challenge this coming season, and he is more motivated than ever.

The offensive tackle has started preparing with a fire in his belly. He has reportedly been more vocal in training and the locker room following the retirement of stalwart Jason Kelce.

Head coach Nick Sirianni needs leaders to step up, and the Australian is doing his bit. Mailata has pushed his teammates relentlessly as they prepare to go to war for redemption this season.

Roster Improvements Could Pay Dividends

The Eagles have reinforced their roster this summer. They tied Mailata down with a three-year $66 million contract extension, making him the fourth-highest-paid left tackle in the NFL.

The team also retained key players such as Lane Johnson and bolstered the offense and defence with fresh talents. Their moves have inevitably garnered interest from sports bettors.

The Eagles are rated as 15.00 shots to win the Super Bowl and Mailata’s sizeable Australian fanbase will likely view those odds as excellent value.

Sportsbooks on this full list of online bookmakers may well be inundated with wagers if the Eagles make a flying start to the 2024 NFL season.

Their squad arguably has more stars than the team that won the title in 2018. They will be keen to make a mockery of their odds after last season’s debacle.

Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert are all top-calibre players, while 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson is another high-level performer.

Mailata will also be crucial to their hopes and his recent comments suggest he is prepared to do whatever it takes to deliver success to the Eagles.