Former Wallabies player Jordan Petaia announced on Tuesday his decision to pursue a career in the NFL.
The 24-year-old Queensland Reds star has secured a coveted spot as the first athlete announced for the 2025 International Player Pathway (IPP) Programme.
โThe decision to step away from rugby hasn't been easy and one that took a great deal of consideration,โ Petaia wrote to his Instagram.
โIt feels like the right time in my career to pursue this dream I've had for a long time.โ
Currently training at the NFL Academy campus on the Gold Coast, Brisbane-raised Petaia will complete an exclusive 10-week training camp in Florida.
Petaia's seven-year rugby career has been a journey of both triumphs and challenges. Petaia, who made his debut at just 19 during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, has earned 31 test caps for the Wallabies and played 58 games for the Reds.
However, a dislocated shoulder, concussion protocols and hamstring/quad strains have sidelined him for 12 of the Wallabies' matches over the past three years.ย
As his Reds contract expires in November and his shoulder rehabilitation comes to an end, Petaia is quoted by the Guardian as saying that the timing feels right to chase his childhood dreams.
โMy dad used to let us stay home from school for Super Bowl โฆ that's why NFL is in my head,โ Petaia said.
โI'm a fan of the whole game, really. In union, people say there's a lot of rules but there's probably triple in the NFL. The playbook's quite large and Madden can only get you so far.โ
Designed to give international players a pathway into the league without disrupting the traditional draft system, the IPP has paved the way for remarkable success stories. Bankstown-born former rugby league player Jordan Mailata joined the IPP and was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.
Since then, the tackle has become a cornerstone of the Eagles' offensive line, helping the team reach last year's Super Bowl and earning a three-year, $66 million contract extension in April.
However, former Wales international and 2024 IPP participant Louis Rees-Zammit hasn't fared as well, landing on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this year.ย
With the US camp beginning in January, Petaia's NFL aspirations hinge on his ability to impress club scouts and secure a roster spot.
โThank you to the NFL IPP for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity,โ Petaia said.
โI am very grateful and excited for the experience that lies ahead.โ
