Every Australian to have played NFL: The only Super Bowl winner from Down Under didn't play one down
Aussie Jordan Mailata (left) celebrates with Jake Elliott and Aussie punter Arryn Siposs as they played for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers in November 2022.
From rugby league converts such as Jarryd Hayne and Jordan Mailata (pictured left), to the lengthy history of AFL hopefuls that became punters, Australia has a storied history in the NFL.
In this picture, Mailata celebrates with Jake Elliott and Aussie punter Arryn Siposs as they played for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers in November 2022.
It's a rare sight to see two Aussies in frame at the same time during an NFL season, let alone in the same team.
Mailata and Siposs made it all the way to the Super Bowl together in 2023, only to suffer an agonising defeat, with Siposs ultimately cut due to a costly error in the loss.
Scroll on to learn about every Australian who has played in the NFL.
Colin Ridgway - Dallas Cowboys
Ridgway would become the first Australian to join a professional American football franchise in 1965.
He would go on to play three matches for the Dallas Cowboys during the season, before being waived.
Ridgway died in 1993.
Colin Scotts - St Louis Cardinals/Houston Oilers
Scotts became the second Australian to play in the NFL and has long been seen as the sport's pioneering father from this side of the world.
A rugby union player in his junior years, Scotts grew up in Sydney but moved to the University of Hawaii after being discovered by college scouts.
Scotts was selected by the St Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 1987 NFL draft and played 12 games as a defensive tackle that season.
He was traded to the Houston Oilers the following season, playing seven games, before his NFL career ended.
Scotts would have a brief run as a pro wrestler with the WWF, but retired in 1995 despite a contract offer.
Darren Bennett - San Diego Chargers
One of the true pioneers of the sport for Australians, Bennett played more than 100 AFL matches before making the switch to American football.
He would become a fixture of the San Diego Chargers franchise for close to a decade after some early jitters, which included a period in NFL Europe.
Bennett recorded 836 career punts for more than 36,000 total yards over his 159-game career - which included a short stay with the Minnesota Vikings - and was also a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
He was named in the Chargers' 50th anniversary team and inducted into the franchise's hall of fame in 2012.
Bennett is also credited for the introduction of the "Aussie rules kick" or "drop punt" into the NFL, which has become a staple at all levels.
Mat McBriar - Dallas Cowboys
One player who wasn't a standout athlete in Australia was McBriar, who never appeared destined for a pro career until a chance occurrence saw him earn a scholarship to the University of Hawaii as a punter.
In 2003, McBriar was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos, before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks and then moving on to the Dallas Cowboys.
McBriar would have a lengthy tenure with the franchise, spending nine seasons in Dallas and becoming a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
The 44-year-old then had short stays at the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers.
McBriar's career in the NFL finished with 141 matches and 602 punts for a total of 27,191 yards, and he featured in four playoff games for the Cowboys.
Ben Graham - Jets/Saints/Cardinals/Lions
A one-club man in the AFL with Geelong, Graham amassed 219 games and scored 145 goals for the club.
After knocking back previous advances from NFL franchises, Graham signed with the New York Jets in 2005 and became the first-choice punter.
Graham would sign a six-year deal worth $8 million with the Jets and went on to become the first Australian to captain an American pro sports team, before moving on in 2008.
He went on to play sporadically for the Saints, Cardinals and Lions before being released at the end of 2012.
Chris Bryan - Tampa Bay Buccanneers
After being drafted by Carlton to join the AFL in 2004, Bryan went on to play 46 games in his pro career, including a stint with Collingwood.
In 2010, Bryan would switch to American football after joining the ProKick program, linking up with the Green Bay Packers before a move to Tampa Bay.
He would go on to play for the Buccanneers sporadically in the 2010 season, recording 23 punts for 860 total yards, but was waived by the club.
Bryan would join the New York Jets but never featured in the NFL for the franchise and returned home in 2012.
Sav Rocca - Philadelphia Eagles/Washington Redskins
A success in two sports, Rocca was a veteran in the AFL and played more than 250 games across stints with Collingwood and North Melbourne.
But at the end of 2006, Rocca made the call to fly across to the States and join the Philadelphia Eagles.
At the time, he would become the oldest rookie to play in the NFL at the age of 33, before spending four seasons in Philly as a punter.
Rocca would then land at Washington in 2011 for a two-year stint, finishing with career stats of 517 punts for more than 22,000 yards.
Hayden Smith - New York Jets
A rugby union forward originally from western Sydney, Smith made a name for himself overseas with English club Saracens and also representing the United States in the 15-man code.
In 2012, Smith made the decision to switch to the NFL after holding trials with a number of franchises, before signing with the New York Jets.
He would become a tight-end, but struggled to make an impact, catching just one ball for his NFL career.
The 38-year-old returned to Saracens in 2014 after being waived by the Jets.
Jesse Williams - Seattle Seahawks
One of the most successful NFL converts from Australia, Williams grew up in Queensland playing rugby league before switching to local gridiron.
After enrolling at Arizona Western - a community college - Williams would become the first Indigenous player to earn a college scholarship in 2011, heading to Alabama and joining legendary coach Nick Saban after receiving offers from 25 teams.
Williams would excel as a defensive tackle and became a standout in the conference, before being drafted to the NFL in the third round in 2015 by the Seattle Seahawks.
Unfortunately, his time in the league was riddled by injuries - but Williams did become the first Aussie player to earn a Super Bowl ring in 2014, despite not playing during the season.
Williams has since returned home and gone on to help grow the game of American football in Australia.
