Alright folks, today I dug deep into Jordan Mailata’s wild size journey. Wanted to understand exactly how that mountain of a man became an NFL tackle, so I grabbed my laptop and dove in.
Finding the Starting Point
First thing I did? Searched his rookie measurements everywhere. Official NFL combine stats showed he was already 6’8″ and 346 pounds when drafted. Made me scratch my head – how’d a rugby kid from Australia get that gigantic?
Started reading old interviews where Jordan said he was just “a chubby kid playing league” back home. Picture showed this tall but soft teenager – nothing like the human wall he is now. That’s when I realized his growth story wasn’t natural at all.
The Grind Unpacked
Went down the rabbit hole discovering his transformation steps:
- Eagles nutrition team slapped 8,000 daily calories on him – watched videos of him choking down peanut butter sandwiches like they were medicine
- Brutal weight room sessions where coaches made him lift till failure daily, focusing on leg drives that’d move defensive ends
- Rugby background actually helped – his footwork translated way better than basketball players switching to football
Most shocking find? His height kept increasing after joining NFL! Medical reports mentioned spinal decompression from intense stretching routines adding nearly half an inch post-draft.
Seeing Results Firsthand
Checked game footage side-by-side. Rookie Jordan moved like a newborn giraffe – all limbs no coordination. Current version? Absolute wrecking ball with terrifying knee bend at that size. Stats proved it: his pancake blocks doubled since 2020 while penalties dropped.
Funniest realization? That man still complains about jersey sleeves being too tight on his tree-trunk arms. Even custom XXL fabrics strain across his back muscles.
My Main Takeaways
This research changed how I see athlete development. Mailata didn’t just happen – they built him like a skyscraper. Every pound strategically added, every inch leveraged for leverage. Teammates call him “The Project” for good reason.
Wrapping up, I’m still amazed by two things: how much edible fuel it takes to maintain that frame, and that a rugby guy with zero football IQ became elite through sheer physical reinvention. Proof that dedication can reshape genetics.
