Former rugby union international Jordan Petaia is one step closer to fulfilling his long-held dream of playing in the NFL after signing with the Los Angeles Chargers as a tight end.
Petaia, who earned 31 caps for the Wallabies, left rugby union late last year after securing a coveted spot on the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program.
The former Queensland Reds star spent 10 weeks at the IMG Academy in Florida earlier this year, where he was trained both on the field and in the classroom. Afterward, he trialed in front of all 32 NFL teams.
The Chargers, who finished second in their conference last season, were impressed with the 25-year-old’s performance and announced a deal with him on Thursday.
As a qualifying international player, Petaia will occupy an exemption spot under new NFL rules, allowing him to be called up to the roster at any point during the season.
Petaia, who became the youngest player to represent the Wallabies in two Rugby World Cups, is versatile across the rugby backline, which makes him a good fit for the tight-end position in the NFL.
Petaia joins fellow Australians, including former NRL player Valentine Holmes and Jordan Mailata, in making the transition from the IPP to an NFL team.
Mailata, who became the first Australian to win a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles last year, expressed confidence that Petaia, as a fellow IPP class of 2018 alum, would make the most of the opportunity ahead of him.
“I am super proud of Jordan and I think the opportunity he has is tremendous,” said Mailata. “It is such a great career move for him and also great that he will be closer to home on the West Coast in LA.”
“I know the Chargers are going to invest in Jordan and he is going to invest and buy into the whole process. Couldn’t be prouder of him,” Mailata added.
Petaia mentioned that when he earned a spot on the IPP, he had been a fan of the NFL since he was a child.
The IPP program was launched in 2017 with the goal of identifying untapped talent from a variety of sports, giving selected athletes the opportunity to develop their skills and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.
The NFL is expanding into the Asia-Pacific region, with Australia being recognized as a key global market with a growing fan base. Three years ago, the league opened offices on the Gold Coast and launched an NFL Flag football program. In 2026, the NFL will play its first regular-season game in Australia at the MCG.
