Jordan Mailata
OT #68 — Philadelphia Eagles
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About Jordan Mailata
Jordan Mailata is 6-foot-8, 380 pounds, and learned what a first down was approximately five years before becoming one of the best offensive linemen in professional football. He grew up playing rugby league in Australia, got selected by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2018 draft as a pure project pick, and turned himself into a franchise left tackle through what can only be described as an unreasonable amount of determination and an equally unreasonable amount of natural athleticism. The "he's only been playing football for three years" stat gets repeated every broadcast because it does not make sense. Most people who have been playing football for three years are in middle school.
The other thing about Mailata is that he sings. Not in a "football player who can carry a tune" kind of way. In a "this man could headline a concert and nobody would question it" kind of way. He performed the Australian national anthem before an NFL game and people in the stadium stopped what they were doing. He has the voice of someone half his size and three times his formal training. The contrast between the largest human being on the Eagles roster gently holding a microphone and producing a beautiful melody is the most Jordan Mailata thing imaginable. He's also by all accounts one of the kindest people in the locker room, which makes the visual of him pancaking a 270-pound defensive end into the turf even more jarring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Jordan Mailata go from rugby to the NFL?
The NFL ran an international player pathway program, and Mailata was identified as someone whose size and athleticism could translate to football. He had literally never put on a football helmet before. The Eagles drafted him in the seventh round, stashed him on the practice squad, and let him learn the sport from scratch. Within three years he was starting at left tackle. Within four he had a massive contract extension. The learning curve wasn't steep. It was vertical, and he climbed it anyway.
Can Jordan Mailata actually sing?
Yes, and it's not a novelty act. He sang the Australian national anthem at an Eagles game and the video went viral because people could not reconcile the voice with the body producing it. He's mentioned music as a genuine passion outside football. Teammates have confirmed that he sings in the locker room regularly. The man is an All-Pro offensive tackle who could plausibly compete on a singing show, and that sentence is not a joke.
Last updated: April 2026