Former Wallabies star Jordan Petaia has joined NFL team the Los Angeles Chargers as part of the International Player Pathway training program.
Petaia, 25, had spent the last few months at the IMG Academy in Florida, learning American football after winding up his rugby career in 2024 following an injury-marred Super Rugby season with Queensland Reds.
The Australian, who played 31 Tests for the Wallabies and featured at both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, then strutted his stuff at the pro day at the University of South Florida last week.
And he has now graduated to the next step of his football education, Petaia signed as a tight end by the Chargers.
Petaia has already caught the eye of fellow Australian and Super Bowl LIX winner Jordan Mailata, who congratulated his countryman on his latest achievement.
"I am super proud of Jordan and I think the opportunity he has is tremendous," Mailata said.
"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."
Petaia is the latest professional rugby player to try his hand at a code switch, after Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit graduated from the same program last year and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Rees-Zammit was later cut by the Chiefs, before being picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Petaia made his Super Rugby debut as an 18-year-old and was later thrust into Test rugby at the 2019 World Cup under then-Australia coach Michael Cheika. Comfortable at either outside centre, wing or fullback, Petaia later proved the star of the Wallabies' quarterfinal loss to England, impressing with his aerial and ball-carrying ability.
But injury proved a constant bedfellow thereafter -- he suffered shoulder, quad and hamstring injuries, as well as separate bouts of concussion -- limiting his game time and denying him the to chance to nail down a spot in the Australia backline.
He did however make the 31-man squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, scoring a try in the Wallabies' opening pool win over Georgia.
But those rugby achievements are now well and truly in the rearview mirror, Petaia set to go to work in Los Angeles in a bid to earn a spot on the Chargers' final 53-man NFL roster.
Petaia joins Thomas Yassmin [Denver Broncos] and Pat Murtagh [Jacksonville Jaguars] as Australian tight ends contracted to NFL franchises.