Philly Leader

Jordan Mailata, the Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle, recently returned to Australia as part of a grassroots initiative aimed at promoting American football. The NFL and the Eagles are behind this effort, which seeks to increase interest in the sport in Australia, New Zealand, and Ghana.

Mailata addressed a group of 120 children at an NFL Flag Football event in Sydney, encouraging them to "follow your dreams" and "do something you love." As he enters his seventh season with the Eagles, Mailata is well-regarded as one of the top left tackles globally. His visit is intended to inspire young Australians by sharing his journey from leaving Australia at age 20 to pursue a career in the NFL.

"I literally left here with nothing but the promise to myself that I would work hard," said Mailata. He was selected by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Now established in Philadelphia, he aims to win championships for both his team and its fans.

The program includes various promotional activities across Sydney and Melbourne. These include corporate functions and an NFL Flag event that quickly sold out. A highlight will be Mailata announcing the Eagles' first-round draft pick on Australia's Gold Coast during an NFL Draft Party.

Anthony Dalton attended the event with his family and expressed excitement about meeting Mailata: "Meeting Jordan and seeing him in person was great." Former Eagles punter Sav Rocca also participated, sharing stories from his time playing for Philadelphia.

Mailata emphasized his desire to use his platform to promote American football: "Anything I can do to promote the NFL...I want to use it for experiences like this."

###