Jordan Mailata made history as the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl win on Monday as the Philadelphia Eagles dominated two-time champion Kansas City 40-22 and thwarted the Chiefs’ bid for an historic three-peat.
Mailata, the Sydney-born son of Samoan immigrants, was lauded for his influence in helping deny the Chiefs from becoming the first franchise to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
“Jordan Mailata … he just covers them up, it’s like he just becomes night-time, he’s just like the moon, he just blocks out everything,” gushed Louis Riddick, a former NFL player, in commentary for ESPN.
The first Australian to play in two Super Bowls gained some redemption on the Chiefs who beat his Eagles for the famed Vince Lombardi Trophy two years ago.
Another Australian does have a Super Bowl ring: Jesse Williams was on the Seattle Seahawks’ roster in their 2014 triumph but didn’t play during the season because of a knee injury.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran in another to dominate Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes.
The game included a star-studded audience, from Taylor Swift to Paul McCartney to US president Donald Trump.
Mailata, who recently signed a $100 million contract extension on top of his current $24m deal, was heavily involved from the start as the score blew out the Eagles way.
The 27-year-old played offensive lineman played rugby league for the Bulldogs’ under-18 team and Rabbitohs’ under-20 team before he was taken in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Eagles defense was simply immense, smothering the Chief’s creative maestro Mahomes, who was sacked six times in the game and threw an intercept that the Eagles ran in for a TD.
Eagles’ dazzling running back Saquon Barkley grabbed 31 first-half rushing yards to break the all-time NFL record for most rushing yards in a regular season plus playoffs, to add icing to the Eagles’ championship cake. This was a second Super Bowl win for the Eagles franchise whose other title victory was in 2018.
“I’m still processing it,” Hurts told Fox Sports. “Just can’t wait to enjoy this with my family and … and soak it in.”
Hurts led the Eagles with another MVP-worthy performance, completing 17-of-21 passes for 221 yards. He also led the team in rushing with 72 yards and a touchdown on a QB sneak.
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/02/10/mailata-makes-history-as-eagles-end-chiefs-three-peat-bid-in-emphatic-style/‘He’s like the moon, he blocks out everything’: Mailata makes history as Eagles end Chiefs three-peat bid
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