Man mountain Jordan Mailata, set to become the first Australian to play in two Super Bowls, says he has unfinished business.
Mailata’s stunning NFL career has continued, with his Philadelphia Eagles winning through to the showcase fixture with victory in the NFC conference championship game.
The Eagles trounced the Washington Commanders 55-23 in Philadelphia on Sunday night (Monday AEDT) to advance to the Super Bowl.
They’ll play Kansas City for the coveted trophy after the Chiefs downed the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the AFC championship match.
The Chiefs are seeking to become the first franchise to win three consecutive Super Bowl wins – and their fourth trophy in six seasons.
But Mailata, who played junior rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, hopes to end their streak on February 9 (February 10 AEDT) in New Orleans.
The son of Samoan immigrants who was born in Bankstown in Sydney played in the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago.
Asked if he had unfinished business, Mailata replied: “Yeah, 100 per cent.”
Mailata said he wouldn’t dwell on the possibility of being the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl victory.
“Man, I am just thinking about getting the job done, that’s all I am thinking about,” he told reporters in a locker-room interview after the Eagles crushed the Commanders.
“We let one slip away in ’22 and all I am thinking about is finishing the job.”
Mailata, who last April signed a three-year, $US66 million contract extension, including a $US20 million signing bonus to remain with the Eagles through to 2028, said he would take a simple focus into the Super Bowl.
“I just try and give my all to my teammates,” he told Sky Sports NFL in an on-field interview.
“I try and play every down with 100 per cent effort, try to execute at a high rate – that’s the things that I focus on.”
The 27-year-old, who is 2.03 metres tall and weighs 166 kilograms, is one of only four Australians to play in a Super Bowl.
Punters Ben Graham (Arizona, 2009), Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco, 2020) and Arryn Siposs, who was Mailata’s Eagles teammate in their defeat two years ago, have all featured – none have won.
But one Australian does have a Super Bowl ring: Jesse Williams was on the Seattle Seahawks’ roster in their 2014 triumph but didn’t play during the season because of a knee injury, which led to him being cut from the list.
Mailata’s stocks have risen annually since he was selected by the Eagles in the 2018 draft – he joined the NFL via the league’s International Pathway Program after scouts saw video clips of him playing rugby league.
Philadelphia selected Mailata in the seventh round, as 233rd overall pick – he had never played American football and when given the Eagles’ playbook, replied it was “a different language”.
But such has been his improvement and impact this season, there was outcry when he was overlooked for selection for the Pro Bowl, the annual all-stars game.
Mailata shrugged off the controversy this month, saying: “That’s out of my control.
“But I will say this: It’s not something that I prioritise or look forward to.
“And another thing is, when I look back from where I was last year to where I am this year, I know I’m on the right path.
“But we’ve got bigger goals.”
