'A humble Sāmoan kid with rugby league roots from Sydney is now a Super Bowl champion'

Lafoga Jordan Mailata has made history in American football by helping his Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, denying them a third Super Bowl feat.

The Eagles demolished the Chiefs 40-22 to win Super Bowl LIX at the Ceasars Superdome in New Orleans on Monday [NZ time] and the Lombardi Trophy.

Mailata, a 27-year-old Sydney-born Sāmoan and former rugby league player, became the first Australian to play in and win a Super Bowl.

The Eagles' left tackle led from the front and was called into action on the offensive line. His blocks were "on-point" in two successful plays for quarterback Jalen Hurts, named MVP, and running back Saquon Barkley.

But Chiefs' fans raised concerns on social media about Mailata lining up behind the scrimmage line on certain plays, suggesting he may have been trying to gain an advantage by standing further back during passing plays.

The rules state that "seven players must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap". The match officials didn't call any penalties, and the Eagles dominated the game, leading 24-0 at halftime. The score was 34-0 before the Chiefs managed to avoid the first shutout in Super Bowl history.

Forbes reported that more than 110 million fans watched the Super Bowl, although viewership has declined this year.

Watch the story of Jordan Mailata here.

But the significance of Mailata's achievements did not go unnoticed by the broadcasting teams.

"From someone who had never touched a gridiron ball while working on demolition sites to a Super Bowl champion. That's pretty awesome, Mailata," Fox’s Jay Glazer said.

Watch Jordan Mailata's interview post-match.

"But for a guy to come from that area, come over here and have the career that he has, it does give hope to a young kid that maybe says, 'I want to be the next Jordan Mailata'," ESPN's Dan Orlovsky said. "Think about all the kids in Australia."

"Only the people closest to these players know what it means," Chris Fowler, of CBS Sports, said.

"A humble kid with Sāmoan blood and rugby league roots from Sydney is now a Super Bowl champion."

Mailata played rugby league for the Bulldogs’ under-18 and the Rabbitohs’ under-20 teams before being selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

He was drafted as pick No. 233 by the Eagles based solely on "pure potential".

A screen grab of Jordan Maialta celebrating with the Sāmoa and Australia flags. Photo/ESPN

Standing 203cm and weighing 168kg, the Eagles took a chance on the relatively unknown giant from Bankstown, Sydney.

Mailata was not the only Pacific islander to play in the Super Bowl. Sāmoans Ju Ju Smith-Schuster, originally named John John Schuster, and Kingsley Suamataia featured for the Chiefs.

A study released by The Athletic last week showed Mailata's impressive season.

“Mailata allowed a career-low one sack, 14 pressures and zero QB hits and allowed only nine pressures in accurate pass sets.

"PFF (Pro Football Focus, a sports analysis company) graded him the best offensive lineman in the NFL, first among tackles in run blocking and second in pass blocking,” the report stated.

Pacific players who featured in Super Bowl LIX: From left, Ju Ju Schuster and Kingsley Suamataia for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jordan Mailata in for the Philadelphia Eagles. Photo/AFP

Wearing jersey #68, Mailata reflected on the overwhelming emotions following the historic victory.

"The biggest thing that comes to mind is consistency," he told NFL on Fox. "The way he [quarterback Hurts] carries himself, win or lose or draw, and the constant consistency, I think, is what stands out the most."

On how the Eagles' offensive line shut the Chiefs out, Mailata said, "It's want to. You gonna have to want to do that.

"You got to want to be more physical. That was a great defence we were going up against, so we knew we had to answer that call, and that ain't easy.

"You have to have the want-to, and you have to have the guys on that, and we do. Tough game, but we got there. Just a crazy, crazy journey so far."

Jordan Mailata has become one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. Photo/Fox

Mailata's market value is expected to skyrocket due to his on-field performance and marketing phenomenon.

His contract with the Eagles expires in 2028, and NFL insiders predict that his next deal could earn him more than A$300 million (NZ$332.6m).

But Mailata is not the first Australian to receive a Super Bowl champion ring. In 2014, Jesse Williams became the first Australian to win a ring despite not playing for the Seattle Seahawks during the 2013 NFL season.

Williams damaged his knee during pre-season training and was placed on the injured reserve list, which ruled him out for his entire rookie season.

Despite not playing, he was awarded a ring after Seattle destroyed the Denver Broncos 43-8 in the Super Bowl.

Jordan Malaita celebrates his team's historic win. Photo/NFL

Monday's historic victory marked the Eagles' fifth NFL championship as NFL winners and their second in the Super Bowl era, following wins in 1948, 1949, 1960, and 2017.

Watch Jordan Mailata's interview on NFL on Fox here following Super Bowl LIX.

Music mogul Jay-Z, soccer icon Lionel Messi, and President Donald Trump were among the A-listers at Caesars Superdome, including pop star Taylor Swift, whose boyfriend Travis Kelce plays for the Chiefs.

Rap superstar Kendrick Lamar performed at the halftime show and was joined by guest celebrities like actor Samuel L. Jackson and tennis legend Serena Williams.

Photo/Doug Benc