I was a 330lbs rugby prodigy dubbed too small for NFL – now I earn $108m-a-year after stunning body transformation
JORDAN Mailata is one of the best linemen in the NFL but the journey there did not always appear so bright.
The 26-year-old underwent an intense body transformation years ago when transitioning from rugby to football, and it has paid off big time.
Mailata's path to NFL stardom was unlike many.
He was an Australian rugby prodigy who grew up playing the game and started playing professionally at a young age.
Mailata was a South Sydney under-20s side member but decided he wanted to pursue the NFL.
He was offered to try out in the NFL's International Players Pathwath program after some scouts saw highlights of him in rugby.
However, scouts deemed him too small for the position he was seeking.
He weighed 330 pounds when he first arrived in the United States in 2018 but was to play offensive line.
Mailata worked out for a few teams before the 2018 NFL draft but was seen as nothing more than a long-term project.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Mailata with the 233rd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2018 draft.
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He became the second player drafted with zero American high school or college football experience.
The Eagles took a slow approach and had Mailata build up his body and strength.
He spent two seasons on the Eagles practice squad learning the NFL game and battling injuries.
Mailata added 20 pounds to his frame and made his for Philadelphia in 2020.
He weighs 360 pounds now and is often referred to by peers as the
The NFL lineman hasn't looked back since getting his chance to start and cashed in on his opportunity.
He signed a four-year contract extension with the Eagles in 2021 for $64million.
Mailata was a massive part of Philadelphia's run to the Super Bowl last season, where he helped anchor one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.