Anyone who has watched Jordan Mailata bulldoze defensive linemen might not immediately picture him as a kid from Sydney who once collapsed during a rugby training session. That collapse—and the heart condition it revealed—set the stage for his improbable journey from Australian rugby junior to starting left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Born: March 31, 1997 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ·
Height: 6-8 (203 cm) ·
Weight: 365 lb (165 kg) ·
Position: Offensive Tackle ·
Team: Philadelphia Eagles ·
NFL Draft: 2018 Round 7 Pick 233
Quick snapshot
- Born in Sydney, Australia to Samoan immigrants (Wikipedia)
- Plays left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles (Wikipedia)
- Signed a 3-year, $66 million extension in 2024 (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
- Married Niki Ikahihifo in July 2023 (Sportskeeda)
- Exact details of his heart condition: some sources say Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, others just a murmur (Greater Than The Game; NRL)
- His wife’s current profession: reported as a lawyer, but other profiles mention structural engineering (Sportskeeda)
- Specific marriage date: reported as July 2023 but not confirmed by primary sources (Greater Than The Game)
- Whether he won Super Bowl LII – he was drafted after the game (Wikipedia)
- 1997 – Born in Bankstown, NSW
- 2014 – Collapsed during rugby training, diagnosed with heart condition
- 2015 – Two surgeries to correct the condition
- 2018 – Drafted by Eagles in Round 7
- 2023 – Signs contract extension
- Mailata’s extension runs through 2028, so he remains a cornerstone of the Eagles’ O-line
- Potential future contract restructures or extensions as he approaches age 30
- Continued growth as a vocal leader in the locker room
Ten key facts about Mailata, one pattern: almost every milestone is tied to a medical or career pivot that few athletes experience.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jordan Mailata |
| Date of Birth | March 31, 1997 |
| Place of Birth | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Ethnicity | Samoan |
| Height | 6-8 (203 cm) |
| Weight | 365 lb (165 kg) |
| Position | Offensive Tackle |
| Current Team | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Wife | Niki Ikahihifo |
What is Jordan Mailata’s ethnicity?
Samoan-Australian heritage
- Mailata is the son of Samoan immigrants who settled in Australia (Wikipedia).
- He was born in Bankstown, an area of Sydney with a high concentration of Samoan families (Wikipedia).
- Some profiles also note he retains New Zealand citizenship through his mother (Wikipedia).
The implication: Mailata’s identity is deeply rooted in the Pacific Islander community, both in Australia and in the NFL. He frequently speaks about representing his heritage on the field.
What is Jordan Mailata’s nationality?
Australian citizenship
- Mailata is unequivocally Australian, born in New South Wales (Wikipedia).
- He has expressed pride in representing Australia in the NFL, becoming the first Australian-born player drafted by the Eagles since 1990 (Wikipedia).
What this means: Mailata’s nationality is a point of pride for Australian sports fans, and he often returns to Sydney during the offseason to stay connected to his roots, as reported by NFL.com.
What is Jordan Mailata’s real name?
Full name and pronunciation
- His full name is simply Jordan Mailata (Wikipedia).
- He was named after his father, and he does not use a middle name publicly.
- Pronunciation: mah-ee-LAH-tah.
The pattern: unlike many athletes with stage names or nicknames, Mailata’s birth name is his professional name—no frills, just the same name his father passed down.
What is Jordan Mailata’s salary?
Current contract details
- Mailata signed a three-year contract extension worth $66 million in 2024, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.
- That extension averages $22 million per season.
- He has $34.75 million guaranteed at signing, as reported by Over The Cap.
Mailata went from a $5,000 contract offer from South Sydney Rabbitohs to a $66 million NFL deal. For Australian rugby prospects, the financial leap is staggering: his current annual salary is roughly 10 times the average NRL player’s wage.
The catch: despite the big numbers, Mailata is not the highest-paid Eagles player. That title belongs to Jalen Hurts, but Mailata’s deal places him among the top left tackles in the league.
What does Jordan Mailata’s wife do?
Marriage and family
- Mailata is married to Niki Ikahihifo, a Tongan lawyer from Alaska, according to Sportskeeda.
- The couple met in high school and announced their engagement in 2020 (SurpriseSports).
- They married in Hawaii in July 2023, as stated in a YouTube profile video.
Why this matters: Mailata’s wife maintains a relatively private life, but her professional background as a lawyer provides a contrast to the typical NFL spouse narrative. Their high school sweetheart story adds a layer of stability to his journey.
What is Jordan Mailata’s heart condition?
Heart murmur and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
- Mailata collapsed during rugby training in 2014 and was diagnosed with a heart condition, as reported by NRL.
- Some coverage identifies the condition as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a congenital heart defect (Greater Than The Game).
- He underwent two operations in 2015, one in February and another in September, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
- Mailata said the condition and surgeries kept him from exercising for a period, causing him to gain significant weight (The Sydney Morning Herald).
- He was later cleared to play in the NFL.
A heart condition that nearly ended his rugby career became the catalyst for his NFL opportunity. Without the weight gain and subsequent need to find a new sport, Mailata might never have entered the International Player Pathway Program.
The trade-off: Mailata’s heart condition is now a footnote in his medical history, but it remains a reminder of how quickly an athlete’s path can shift.
Who is the richest Eagles player?
Context among Eagles contracts
- Quarterback Jalen Hurts holds the largest contract in Eagles history, with a five-year, $255 million extension signed in 2023, according to Over The Cap.
- Mailata’s $22 million average is the highest among Eagles offensive linemen but still well below the top earners on the team.
- Other high-paid Eagles include A.J. Brown ($32M average) and DeVonta Smith ($25M average).
The implication: Mailata’s salary is impressive for a former seventh-round pick, but he is not the richest Eagle. That distinction underscores the Eagles’ front-office philosophy of locking up core players with big contracts, making it a team with several top-tier earners.
Timeline: Jordan Mailata’s journey
- 1997 – Born in Sydney, Australia.
- Rugby career – Played junior rugby league for South Sydney Rabbitohs.
- 2014 – Collapses during training, diagnosed with heart condition.
- 2015 – Two heart surgeries; gains weight during recovery.
- 2018 – Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2018 NFL Draft (Round 7, Pick 233).
- 2023 – Signs a three-year, $66 million contract extension.
- 2024 – Extension officially takes effect, securing him through 2028.
Timeline signal: the gap between 2015 and 2018 is the quietest but most transformative period—Mailata went from a rugby player recovering from surgery to an NFL draft pick.
Confirmed facts
- Mailata was born in Australia to Samoan parents.
- He plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- His wife’s name is Niki Ikahihifo.
- He has a heart condition (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome).
- He signed a $66 million extension in 2024.
What’s unclear
- Exact date of marriage (reported as July 2023).
- Details of his wife’s current employment.
- Specific financial details beyond contract averages.
- Whether he has any New Zealand citizenship beyond what’s reported.
- Whether he won Super Bowl LII (drafted after the game).
What Mailata says
“I’m a proud Australian, and I want to represent my country the best way I can.”
— Jordan Mailata, as quoted by NFL.com
In an interview with NRL, Mailata said he was either born with the heart condition or it developed during puberty.
He also told The Sydney Morning Herald that the heart condition and surgeries kept him from exercising for a period and caused him to gain significant weight.
For Australian rugby prospects dreaming of the NFL, Mailata’s story is both inspiring and cautionary: a heart condition nearly derailed him, but it also opened a door. For the Eagles, the decision to invest $66 million in a former seventh-round pick who never played college football has paid off handsomely. The implication is clear: Mailata’s trajectory is unlikely to be replicated, but it proves that the NFL International Player Pathway Program can uncover raw talent—if the athlete has the resilience to survive the setbacks.
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Frequently asked questions
How tall is Jordan Mailata?
He is 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm) tall.
How much does Jordan Mailata weigh?
He weighs 365 pounds (165 kg).
What position does Jordan Mailata play?
He plays offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles.
How long is Jordan Mailata’s contract with the Eagles?
His current extension runs through the 2028 season.
Where was Jordan Mailata born?
He was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Is Jordan Mailata married?
Yes, he married Niki Ikahihifo in July 2023.
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Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.