NFL: Super Bowl LVI dream over for last Aussie standing Mitch Wishnowsky

Mitch Wishnowsky, the last Aussie in this year’s race for Super Bowl glory, was eliminated on Monday afternoon (AEDT).

Mitch Wishnowsky (left) will have to wait at least another year for a shot at Super Bowl glory. Picture: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Mitch Wishnowsky’s dreams of becoming the first Aussie to play in a winning Super Bowl team were crushed by the Los Angeles Rams in a last-gasp play-offs thriller on Monday afternoon (AEDT).

The Perth tradie-turned-San Francisco 49ers punter was the last Aussie in the hunt for Super Bowl glory this season after Jordan Mailata and Arryn Siposs’ Philadelphia Eagles bowed out of the play-offs in the first week.

But Wishnowsky, who also played in the Niners’ losing Super Bowl side in 2020, will have to wait at least another year to enter the history books.

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The Rams charged back into the contest in the final quarter and took the lead with 1:49 left on the clock.

Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw an interception shortly afterwards and the Los Angelenos were home.

Mitch Wishnowsky punted five times at an average of 37.6 on Monday. Picture: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images/AFP

The 20-17 loss robbed Wishnowsky of his latest chance to become the first Aussie in history to play in two Super Bowls.

He and former St Kilda star Ben Graham are the only two Aussies to have played in Super Bowls, with Graham becoming the first in 2009.

Jesse Williams remains the only Aussie to have won a Super Bowl ring but did so without taking the field for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII.

The Rams are set to meet the Cincinnati Bengals in the decider on February 14 (AEDT).

The Bengals knocked off last year’s runners-up, the Kansas City Chiefs, in an overtime nailbiter earlier on Monday, qualifying for their first Super Bowl appearance since the 1988 season.

Cincinnati is also one of 12 NFL teams never to have won a Super Bowl.

Originally published as NFL: Super Bowl LVI dream over for last Aussie standing Mitch Wishnowsky