Australians in the NFL

Jordan Mailata – Offensive Tackle – Philadelphia Eagles

Jordan Mailata is an Australian who has taken the NFL by storm, with his hulking 166kg frame putting him firmly in contention as one of the biggest players ever in the American football competition. Mailata, who is from Bankstown in Sydney, plays for the Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive tackle. Remarkably Mailata, the son of Samoan immigrants, was spotted by NFL scouts playing for a Canterbury junior rugby league team, before inviting him to trial with the international pathways program. Mailata was taken with pick 233 in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft, becoming just the second player to be drafted with no American high school or college experience. In Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season, Mailata made his debut against the Washington Football Team and by Week 4 he made his first start. Mailata played a key role in reaching Super Bowl LVII, where the Eagles lost 38-35. In April 2024, Mailata signed a three-year $66 million extension, making him one of the top five highest-paid offensive tackles in the NFL.

Daniel Faalele – Offensive Guard – Baltimore Ravens

The heaviest player in the NFL at 172kg and 203cm tall, Daniel Faalele is another Australian whose colossal size has made an instant impact. Born in Melbourne to a Samoan father and a Tongan mother, Faalele played basketball and rugby union while growing up. He was discovered by the coaching staff at the University of Hawai’I and at 16 years old was recruited by the IMG Academy, one of the premier sporting schools in America. As a four-star prospect, Faalele committed to the University of Minnesota, where he played three seasons. In his senior season, Faalele was elected into the All-Big Ten First Team and then proceeded to declare for the NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of college eligibility. Faalele was taken by the Baltimore Ravens with pick 110 in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Across his first two seasons, Faalele was used primarily as a backup tackle as he managed just one start from 32 games. However, a switch to right guard for the 2024 season has seen Faalele move into a starting role as he fronts for a premier rushing offense in the NFL.

Adam Gotsis – Defensive Tackle – Indianapolis Colts

Adam Gotsis has been another key for Australian in the NFL, playing more games than any other Australian non-special teams player. A representative of the Australian national American football team through high school, Gotsis was recruited to play college football at Georgia Tech University as a nose tackle and defensive end. The Melbourne product spent four years in college, where he accumulated 110 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 48 games. In 2016, Gotsis became the highest-drafted Australian born player in NFL history, as he was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round with pick 63. After playing his first season as a backup, Gotsis became the starting right defensive end in 2017. Known for his longevity, Gotsis played every game through the first four years of his career until a knee injury ruled him out for the season in Week 9 of 2019. In 2020, Gotsis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, playing all but one game across a four-year stretch, alternating in and out of the starting lineup. After being waived by the Jags before the 2024 season, Gotsis joined the Indianapolis Colts practice squad but by Week 4, he had been elevated to the 53-man roster, moving to defensive tackle.

Cameron Johnston – Punter – Pittsburgh Steelers

Cameron Johnston is a more traditional Australian NFL convert, using his Australian Rules skillset to transition across to the US. The Geelong product was drafted by the Melbourne Demons with pick 63 in the 2011 AFL rookie draft, but after just one unsuccessful season, Johnston was delisted. As a result, Johnston signed up with ProKick Australia and rapidly impressed, securing a full scholarship to Ohio State University. Across four years, Johnston received plenty of accolades, winning the National Championship in 2014, second-team All-Big Ten in 2015 and Big Ten punter of the year in 2015. Johnston signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2017, but was released before the season began. In 2018 Johnston made the Eagles’ 53-man roster, making his NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons. After three years at the Eagles, Johnston signed with the Houston Texans, where he became the NFL punting yards leader for 2021. In 2024, Johnston signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, making him one of the top five highest paid punters in the NFL. However, in Week 1 he suffered a knee injury, ruling him out for the remainer of the season.

Michael Dickson – Punter – Seattle Seahawks

Michael Dickson is Australia’s most accomplished punter, playing for the Seattle Seahawks. Born in Sydney, Dickson grew up playing Australian rules football as a part of the Sydney Swans academy. After being overlooked in the 2014 AFL draft, Dickson turned his sights to the NFL, moving to Melbourne to join Prokick Australia. In 2016, Dickson was recruited by the University of Texas, where he thoroughly impressed across three years at the school. In his final year, Dickson won the Ray Guy Award, representing the top punter in college football. Dickson was taken by the Seattle Seahawks with pick 149 in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the first punter off the board. In his first NFL season, Dickson burst onto the scene, with his combination of excellent punting and unique drop-kick technique on kick-offs gaining him plenty of attention. As a result, Dickson was named First Team All-Pro and became the first rookie punter to reach the Pro Bowl since 1985. As of 2024, Dickson is currently the highest paid punter in the NFL.

Mitch Wishnowsky – Punter – San Francisco 49ers

Another one of the top punters in the NFL, Mitch Wishnowsky has played an important role for the San Francisco 49ers. Growing up in Perth, Wishnowsky had a promising junior Aussie Rules career, playing for Perth in the WAFL reserves. However, repeated shoulder injuries forced him to rethink his career, as he moved across the country to enrol in Prokick Australia. After impressing in the program, Wishnowsky moved to the US, where he punted for one year at Santa Barbara City College before moving across to the University of Utah to play division one football. Across three years, Wishnowski was one of the top punters in the country, winning the Ray Guy Award in 2016 and making the All-Pac-12 First Team from 2016-2018. In the 2019 NFL Draft, Wishnowsky was the first punter taken off the board, as he was selected with pick 110 in the fourth round by the San Francisco 49ers. Throughout his time in the Bay, Wishnowsky has competed in two Super Bowls, in 2019 and in 2024, both of which were losses to the Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 2 of the 2021 season, Wishnowsky became the first Australian to score a point as he scored an extra point after the starting kicker was injured.

Tory Taylor – Punter – Chicago Bears

Tory Taylor is arguably the greatest punter to ever come out of college football. After graduating high school, Taylor worked in construction and a golf pro shop until he enrolled in Prokick Australia. In 2020, Taylor was awarded a scholarship to the University of Iowa. In his first year he was awarded the Big Ten punter of the year. In 2023, Taylor decided to return for his final season of college eligibility, where he dominated, winning the Ray Guy Award and setting the NCAA record for the most punting yards in a season. Across his college career, Taylor had the highest average punting yards of all time. As a result, Taylor was drafted with pick 122 in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, signing a four-year deal. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.

Matthew Hayball – Punter – New Orleans Saints

Matthew Hayball is another Australian Rules convert making waves in the American game. Born in Adelaide, Hayball was a talent junior footy player and was selected with the final pick in the 2015 AFL Draft by the Geelong Cats. However, by the end of the 2018 season, he was delisted without playing a game. As a result, he joined Prokick Australia, earning himself a scholarship at the Florida Atlantic University. After three years at the school, Hayball transferred to Vanderbilt, an SEC school with greater national attention. In two years at the school, Hayball finished as Vanderbilt’s all-time leader in punting average, earning first-team All-SEC honours in 2023 and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award. Despite the accolades, he was overlooked in the 2024 NFL Draft but signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.