Opening for Ne-Yo, appearing on The Masked Singer and pancaking defenders for a living – is there anything Aussie NFL sensation Jordan Mailata can’t do?
The $108million star Philadelphia Eagles left tackle was letting off some steam with teammates ahead of training camp when he performed a medley of songs while warming up for three-time Grammy winner Ne-Yo in his new home town.
You read that right: a 157kg offensive lineman opening up for one of the most popular R&B singers of his generation, who has sold over 20million albums worldwide.
Videos emerged on social media of Mailata belting out delightfully smooth renditions of popular songs like ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours’ and Amy Winehouse‘s hit ‘Valerie’.
Grammy Award-winning artist Ne-Yo is currently performing on his Self Explanatory world tour, including a recent show in Philadelphia
Popular Philadelphia radio personality Patty Jackson showed her appreciation for Mailata’s talents by posting a video from the front row and a picture backstage, and football fans also gushed about his ability on social media.
One fan hilariously wrote on Twitter that ‘the only thing Jordan Mailata can’t do is fit in a small car’, while another commented that the Aussie ‘is the smoothest dude alive’.
A college football coach also waxed lyrical about the Aussie superstar, writing: ‘He shouldn’t be allowed to be this talented. Best Tackle in the NFL and can sing like that! Jordan Mailata is something else.’
Mailata is no stranger to the stage.
The multi-talented former reserve grader for South Sydney said earlier this year while performing on popular show The Masked Singer that he was ‘a singer first before any sort of athlete.’
His voice was a common feature on his personal and Eagles social media accounts, and judges on the show were brought to tears when he performed a spine-tingling rendition of the Ed Sheeran song ‘Perfect’.
Jordan Mailata was ‘Thingamabob’ on the American version of The Masked Singer, where he made a big impression on the celebrity judges
Jordan Mailata performs before Ne-Yo’s show at the Dell Music Centre in Philadelphia
Opening for Ne-Yo, and being praised by music superstars Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger would be a highlight for a professional singer, let alone one of the NFL’s top left tackles – probably one of the game’s most important positions given they protect the quarterback’s blind side.
Fans, former players and NFL pundits are in no doubt Mailata has already started living up to his enormous potential despite never playing a game of gridiron before being drafted by the Eagles in 2018.
Scarily, with more experience and an improved roster, the 203cm behemoth can get even better – not that you’d know by going off his rank on the latest Madden NFL video game.
Aussie Jordan Mailata is one of the top offensive linemen in the entire NFL
Despite top analytics company Pro Football Focus ranking him the third-best tackle in the league for 2021, he was controversially left out of the top 10 offensive linemen for the latest edition of the famous Madden game.
He was given a rating of 84 out of 100, six outside the top 10 and well below what many expected him to rate.
The snub set fans and pundits off, with one Twitter user simply lashing out at ‘the disrespect’.
Jordan Mailata (centre) sets up to block a Tampa Bay defender in a game last season
‘Guy is a top five tackle,’ one wrote, while another tweeted that ‘every single Jordan Mailata rating is off by a mile’.
Many were left ‘shaking their heads’ that he wasn’t given a ranking in the 90s.
Given the Eagles were ranked as the best offensive line unit in the game, it’s unbelievable to think Mailata didn’t rate a whole lot better.
The disrespect for Aussie players continued with Seahawks cult hero Michael Dickson ranked by Madden as the fifth-best punter in the league – with most pundits and fans suggesting he is clearly the NFL’s best.
Jordan Mailata during the Eagles training camp in 2021. Despite only playing his first game of gridiron in 2018, he has quickly become one of the NFL’s best at his position
Mailata is getting ready to attend the Eagles’ preseason training camp, confident in the knowledge that his roster spot is safe and the sky is the limit as he looks to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts’ blind side and secure a Pro Bowl spot.
The Eagles official training camp preview lauded Mailata’s continual improvement.
‘The emergence of left tackle Jordan Mailata gives the line a physically imposing left side of the line … Philadelphia is committed to stay at the top along the offensive line,’ Dave Spadaro’s preview read.