Jordan Mailata, the Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle, has recently signed a contract extension, a significant milestone in his unconventional journey from rugby to the NFL. Mailata, who had no collegiate football experience and was drafted in the 7th round by the Eagles, has successfully transitioned from a rugby player to a key figure in the Eagles' lineup, overcoming the stereotype of being just a 'former rugby player'. His development was under the mentorship of Jason Peters, and he surpassed first-round pick Andre Dillard to secure his position. Mailata's story of perseverance and adaptation was highlighted during a media interaction, where he reflected on his journey, especially noting the contrast from his days before the NFL when affording a bus ticket was a challenge. This reflection came while he was on his honeymoon in Italy, marking a personal and professional milestone.
Jordan Mailata & his wife were on their honeymoon in Italy before he got the news of his contract extension. There, he finally got a chance to start reflecting on the years The fact he was in Italy at all, in fancy hotels, struck him. Six years ago, he couldn’t buy a bus ticket.
T Jordan Mailata speaks with the media. #FlyEaglesFly https://t.co/1fB97mmAP5
Tremendous draft success. Jordan Maialata never played collegiate ball. Rugby player. Still, Eagles spent a 7th-rnd pick to secure his services. He sat & learned behind Jason Peters. Eventually, he claimed the job over 1st-rnd pick Andre Dillard. Oh, he can really sing, too. https://t.co/t7nXuDX0vE
Let's dive into Jordan Mailata's extension - https://t.co/ofJtUtfeg4
One sentiment that Jordan Mailata expressed in 2020: Stop marveling at the "former rugby player" of his story, because a missed block/blown assignment became rationalized as someone still learning the game. Judge him like any offensive tackle who started playing the game in Pro…