{"id":46354,"date":"2025-04-03T12:26:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T12:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=46354"},"modified":"2025-04-03T12:26:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T12:26:12","slug":"ex-wallabies-stars-huge-risk-pays-off-as-he-follows-louis-rees-zammit-in-signing-nfl-deal-but-rejects-patrick-mahomes-and-travis-kelces-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=46354","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Wallabies star’s ‘huge risk’ pays off as he follows Louis Rees-Zammit in signing NFL deal but rejects Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s team"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ex-Wallabies
Former Wallabies star Jordan Petaia and ex-Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who are both signed to NFL teams.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n

Jordan Petaia has taken his first significant step in realising his NFL dream by agreeing a deal with the LA Chargers, despite reported interest from Kansas City Chiefs.<\/b><\/p>\n

The former Wallabies star, who has appeared at two Rugby World Cups, has signed a three-year contract with the franchise and will start the process of trying to make the 53-man roster.<\/p>\n

Petaia\u00a0does not therefore quite follow the same path as\u00a0Louis Rees-Zammit, who this time last year was joining a Chiefs team that contained the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.<\/p>\n

There was a suggestion that the 2020, 2023 and 2024 Super Bowl winners were looking to bring in the Australian, but he has opted for the Chargers instead after going through the International Player Pathway Program.<\/p>\n

\u2018Huge risk\u2019<\/h2>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled for Jordy, who has quietly planned this move to the NFL for some time,\u201d manager Andrew Fairbairn said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has taken a huge risk to depart rugby union for the NFL IPP, with no contractual guarantee.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter speaking with a few teams since Pro Day last week, we felt the Chargers was the best fit for him as he takes his first step in the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n

It may prove to be beneficial for Petaia, despite the obvious lure of the Chiefs, given that Rees-Zammit\u2019s stint in Kansas ended before the season even started.<\/p>\n

The ex-Wales star then signed for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a wide receiver and has returned for the 2025\/26 campaign, hoping to finally get his shot in the NFL.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc8\u00a0Former Australia star could be mentored by Travis Kelce as NFL giants come calling \u2013 report<\/p>\n

Although the former Wallaby, like the Welshman, was used in the outside backs in rugby union, he is being seen as a tight end in American football.<\/p>\n

Petaia is certainly smaller than a lot of the players who tend to feature in that position, but his explosiveness and athleticism have impressed NFL scouts.<\/p>\n

The 31-times capped Test player may not have the out-and-out speed of Rees-Zammit, but he has much better vertical and broad jump scores.<\/p>\n

Jordan Mailata influence<\/h2>\n

Petaia will duly hope to follow another Australian Jordan Mailata, who played age-grade rugby league, in becoming an established NFL star.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old signed for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 and was a key part of their triumph in the Super Bowl earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am super proud of Jordan and I think the opportunity he has is tremendous,\u201d Mailata said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is such a great career move for him and also great that he will be closer to home on the West Coast in LA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know the Chargers are going to invest in Jordan and he is going to invest and buy into the whole process. Couldn\u2019t be prouder of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc40 READ MORE: Former Australia star reveals conversation with Louis Rees-Zammit as quest to realise NFL dream intensifies<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jordan Petaia has taken his first significant step in realising his NFL dream by signing with the LA Chargers, despite interest from Kansas City Chiefs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":46355,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[1479,1480,1481,1483,1484,790,108,1482],"class_list":["post-46354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl","tag-australia","tag-home-page","tag-international","tag-jordan-mailata","tag-jordan-petaia","tag-louis-rees-zammit","tag-news","tag-usa"],"yoast_head":"\nEx-Wallabies star's 'huge risk' pays off as he follows Louis Rees-Zammit in signing NFL deal but rejects Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's team - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=46354\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ex-Wallabies star's 'huge risk' pays off as he follows Louis Rees-Zammit in signing NFL deal but rejects Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's team - 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