Australian Jordan Mailata given key role for Philadelphia Eagles in huge career move

Four years after he was taken as a longshot NFL pick, former rugby league player Jordan Mailata has been given some massive career news.

Australian offensive tackle Jordan Mailata will start for the Eagles. Picture: Philadelphia Eagles

The NFL career of Australian former rugby league player Jordan Mailata has taken a huge step forward after he was declared the number one protector for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Former AFL layer Arryn Siposs has also joined the long-list of Australian punters in the NFL after earning a spot on the Eagles 53-man roster.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni revealed Mailata, 24, would be the starting left tackle for the Eagles when the NFL season gets under way after beating out former first-round pick Andrew Dillard for the role.

“Jordan will be our starter,” Sirianni said on Tuesday.

“Jordan had a great camp, Andre had a great camp. Andre missed some time and during that time, the chemistry with the offensive line was able to build.

”It’s a good problem for us to have. We have two left tackles that can really play and can start.

“Jordan did a good job winning that position, but I don’t want to short Andre at all. When he was in, he played really well. He played a phenomenal last pre-season game. I thought that was also the case in the Jets practices as well.

Camp battle has been over for some time, but this makes it official.

Jordan Mailata’s already on a life-changing path, but where he could be come March next year is a $17M+/year left tackle ($US).

His base salary this year is $850K, plus $22,348 in prorated bonus. https://t.co/iVCKRAJSgk

— Laurie Horesh (@LaurieHoresh) August 31, 2021

“You don’t just say, ‘Hey, here’s one game and here’s a splash game’ and we’re just doing everything based off of that. The whole body of work’s in play. I’m sure glad we have both those guys on this roster.”

The elevation to the starting line-up also puts Mailata on track for a massive contract increase, and he could earn as much as $20m.

He is currently earning around $1.2m.

Mailata will be given the job of protecting Hurts’ blind side, one of the key roles in the offensive line, having risen from relative obscurity after being a “longshot” selection by the Eagles in the 2018 draft.

Arryn Siposs in action for Auburn (AAP Image/Supplied by Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)

A former rugby league player who played under 20s with South Sydney, Mailata has spent four years with the Eagles honing his craft and made his NFL debut off the bench last season.

Mailata is one of seven Australians in the NFL this season, including 28-year-old Siposs who played 28 games for St Kilda before turning his attention to punting at the age of 25.

Siposs played college football at Auburn University and unless he is injured, Siposs will begin the season as the Eagles’ starting punter in just under two weeks’ time against the Atlanta Falcons.

Our guy @jordan_mailata reppin' 🇦🇺 on his @Eagles lid in 2021 🔥

📺 Watch all the #NFLPreseason action live on https://t.co/5qsWEK96Wepic.twitter.com/IepzJmvm9G

— NFL Australia (@NFLAustralia) August 25, 2021

Originally published as Australian Jordan Mailata given key role for Philadelphia Eagles in huge career move