Another former rugby player is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Jordan Mailata, with Laki Tasi signing as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Tasi, a 157 kg Samoan-Australian defensive tackle, has joined the squad through the league's International Player Pathway.
He now enters a team owned by NFL icon Tom Brady, and one that will be led by legendary head coach Pete Carroll.
Las Vegas Raiders sign former Australian rugby stud
Laki Tasi will look to make his mark on the Las Vegas Raiders, as the team enters a new era under head coach Carroll, alongside new quarterback Geno Smith and Heisman trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty.
This will be a marked change for Tasi, who joined the NFL IPP after playing community rugby for Queensland Samoa.
For all of #RaiderNation wanting to take a closer look at the newest Raider Laki Tasi, check out the video below. @Raiders @tashanreed @TheStandard_Co #Raiders pic.twitter.com/eNUXIg0KUL
— deen agustin (@deen_agustin) April 30, 2025
According to the new signing, he was unaware of his chances as an NFL player, before being informed by the owner of a burger restaurant.
"The owner was onto me... like let's try out this NFL thing, you've got a good body [for it]," Tasi told ESPN.
"As soon as I searched up the YouTube [story] about Jordan [Mailata] and the NFL IPP I realised how big it is.
"He brought up the information about NFL… like three years ago, but in my head I was like 'nah, I just want to stay home, be around my family.
"But then last year when he popped the same question... that's when I realised, "okay, sweet. Let's give it a crack'."
He now becomes the latest in a growing list of rugby-to-NFL converts, spearheaded by 2025 Super Bowl champion Mailata, who also came through the IPP.
At 21-years-old, the six-foot-six Samoan-born Brisbane local has plenty of time ahead of him to grow into an NFL star.