Australian players who are making waves in the bright lights of the NFL will now be able to proudly sport their nation’s flag on their helmets for the first time.
Eight players from Down Under will have an Australian flag sticker on their club’s helmets for the next two weeks as part of the league’s International Series: Michael Dickson, Mitch Wishnowsky, Jordan Mailata, Daniel Faalele, Adam Gotsis, Cameron Johnston, Arryn Siposs and Matt Leo.
Over 200 players from around the league have opted to wear a decal of the flag of another country on their helmets, alongside the American Stars and Stripes.
They just have to have lived in the country for at least two years, or have a parent or grandparent who was born there.
Aussie NFL stars Daniel Faalele (left) and Jordan Mailata (right) will be wearing Australian flag decals on their helmets over the next two weeks
All eight players spent their entire lives prior to their unlikely journey to the NFL in Australia, highlighting their enormous achievement in dominating in one of the world’s biggest leagues despite only playing the game for a few years.
Philadelphia Eagles offensive linemen Jordan Mailata is undoubtedly the most high-profile of the lot; not only heralded as one of the league’s top left tackles but also starring on the American version of hit reality show The Masked Singer.
The 203cm, 166kg offensive lineman – who played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs prior to making it big in the US – is thriving in one of the league’s best offenses, in what many experts regard as the sport’s second-most important position.
Originally from Bankstown in south-west Sydney, Mailata signed a whopping $86million contract last year after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft as an International recruit.
Wearing an Aussie flag on his helmet is a nice nod to just how far he has come.
‘My mum, especially growing up, she worked full-time, six days a week, probably like 12 hours a day. My dad was a handyman, he worked two jobs; the bloke could fix anything,’ he has previously said about his upbringing.
‘If you really want to put all your eggs in a basket, do it, don’t look back. I didn’t want to fail my dad, didn’t want to fail my last name and my family.’
Jordan Mailata with his parents before leaving Sydney for the US in January 2018
Jordan Mailata is making waves in the US after previously playing for the Rabbitohs
Now, despite being intensely proud of his Aussie and Samoan heritage, he wants to be known for his exploits on the gridiron.
‘I wasn’t trying to get rid of the “oh, the rugby player can play”. I just wanted to be seen as the football player, as a left tackle,’ Mailata told ESPN last month.
Faalele, a 203cm, 176kg man mountain who is the heaviest player in the league, had a slightly different journey, playing college football for the University of Minnesota before being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in April.
Daniel Faalele is starring for the Baltimore Ravens after being drafted in April
Faalele with partner Brianna Montgomery at his alma mater, the University of Minnesota
Despite being the team’s fourth-string left tackle, Faalele was thrown in the deep end after a spate of injuries, earning high praise from his superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson after their heartbreaking loss to Miami on Monday morning (AEST).
‘He just started dominating like he did in college,’ Jackson told ESPN after the game.
‘I didn’t doubt him at all. None of us did … shout out to Faalele because he stepped up major.’
The second-heaviest player of all-time, the 22-year-old from Melbourne only put on pads for the first time in 2017.
Seattle star Michael Dickson, considered by most to be the league’s top punter after previously playing AFL for the Swans and winning a $21million contact with the Seahawks, will also be proudly sporting an Aussie flag on his helmet.
Aussie punters Mitch Wishnowsky (left) and Michael Dickson (right) after their 49ers and Seahawks did battle on Monday morning AEST
Fellow punters Mitch Wishnowsky (San Fransisco 49ers), Arryn Siposs (Eagles) and Cameron Johnston (Houston Texans) are also among the eight proud Aussie players.
Wishnowsky is fresh off a stunning performance that was heralded by cult NFL pundit, former punter Pat McAfee, that helped the 49ers to victory over Seattle.
That came just days after the Perth-native signed a big $19million contract.
Defenders Adam Gotsis (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Matt Leo (Eagles) round out the other Aussie players who will showcase the Southern Cross on their helmets.
Other Aussies to sport our Nation’s flag on their helmets include Cameron Johnston and Adam Gotsis
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, when announcing the flag initiative – a league first – said it was important the league acknowledged the background of its diverse playing cohort.
‘The NFL is proud of the extensive collection of nationalities and heritage of its players across the League,’ he said.
‘We recognize the many cultures they represent and the excitement they bring to their home fans, which ultimately helps grow our game.’
Other NFL superstars who will feature a different flag on their helmet include Tua Tagovailoa (Samoa), Kyler Murray (South Korea) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (Germany).
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