Jordan Petaia pursues NFL career after leaving rugby union

In Australia, former Wallabies player Jordan Petaia announced that he will leave rugby union to pursue his long-held ambition of playing in the NFL. This decision comes after Petaia's contract with the Queensland Reds expired in November 2024, and he has completed his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury. The 24-year-old has earned 31 caps for Australia and was the youngest player to compete in two Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023. As one of the first participants in the NFL's international player pathway program for 2025, Petaia is set to attend a 10-week training camp in Florida beginning in January 2025, where he aims to impress scouts and earn a spot on a professional NFL roster. Petaia's journey into American football follows a successful stint in rugby, during which he played versatile positions, indicating his potential fit as a wide receiver or tight end in the NFL. Petaia aims to emulate the success of players like Jordan Mailata, who successfully transitioned from the IPP to the NFL. Petaia expressed gratitude towards his rugby teams and noted that this was the right time in his life to chase his dream of playing American football.