Australians in American football include not just a number of successful football code converts, but also a number of players with high profiles either before or as a result of their switching codes.
In Australia, there is an almost equal fascination, among the media and general public, of players linked to the National Football League (NFL) as there is for the Irish experiment.
Although Australians have participated at the highest level of American football, since the success of Darren Bennett as a punter and more recently Ben Graham, several athletes from Australian rules football, rugby league and rugby union have been linked to potential NFL careers.
The punting specialist position requires similar skills to those used in Australian Rules football. Salaries are up to five times higher and the position lends itself to longevity: Australian football players generally retire at around 30, whereas American football punters can play well into their 40s (Darren Bennett played 11 seasons in the NFL after leaving an Australian rules career when he was nearing 30). Initially Australians sought out American football careers, although now NFL scouts are more often actively seeking punters from Australia.
The first Australian to play American Football at a meaningful level was former Australian rules footballer Pat O'Dea in 1896 who was a College Football Hall of Fame and All-American player who set many kicking records https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pat-ODea
Gridiron in Australia is only at amateur level, so the pathway for Australians to NFL teams is typically limited to other professional Australian sports. For almost a decade, the NFL has placed full-time development officers in Australia, including Australian rules football hopeful Dwayne Armstrong. There is a full-time punting academy in Australia, Prokick Australia, run by former NFL free agent Nathan Chapman, which is aimed at training and assessing talented punters from Australia for positions in major U.S. colleges and the NFL.
More recently, the Ray Guy Award, presented to the top punter in NCAA Division I FBS football, was won by Australians six times in the last seven seasons of the 2010s—by Tom Hornsey in 2013, Tom Hackett in 2014 and 2015, Mitch Wishnowsky in 2016, Michael Dickson in 2017, Max Duffy in 2019, and Tory Taylor in 2023. Hornsey played for the University of Memphis, Hackett and Wishnowsky for the University of Utah, Dickson for the University of Texas, Duffy for the University of Kentucky, and Taylor for the University of Iowa. In the 2018 season, 30 FBS teams and about 35 teams in the second-tier Division I FCS had Australian punters.
Australian sportsmen recruited by NFL teams a) brought to the US by an NFL team b) spent time training with an NFL team c) played in an NFL pre-season game d) offered an NFL contract by a team e) spent time on an NFL roster
Australian sportsmen highlighted in blue played at least one game in the NFL Australian sportsmen highlighted in green are currently on an NFL roster Australian sportsmen highlighted in yellow are currently on an NFL practice squad
Recruited Player Original sport(s) College team Position Initial NFL team NFL debut NFL games played Notes 2026 Brett Thorson Australian rules football Georgia Bulldogs P Minnesota Vikings 2026 Jack Bouwmeester Cricket Soccer Texas Longhorns P San Francisco 49ers 2025 Laki Tasi Rugby league Rugby union International Player Pathway G Las Vegas Raiders 2025 Luke Felix-Fualalo Rugby union Hawaii Rainbow Warriors OT Seattle Seahawks 2025 Jeremy Crawshaw Australian rules football Rugby league Florida Gators P Denver Broncos 2025 17 2025 James Burnip Australian rules football Alabama Crimson Tide P New Orleans Saints 2024 Thomas Yassmin Rugby union Utah Utes TE Denver Broncos 2024 Laekin Vakalahi Basketball Rugby league International Player Pathway OT Philadelphia Eagles 2024 Tory Taylor Australian rules football Iowa Hawkeyes P Chicago Bears 2024 34 2024 Matthew Hayball Australian rules football Vanderbilt Commodores P New Orleans Saints 2024 17 2024 Nik Constantinou Australian rules football Texas A&M Aggies P Denver Broncos 2023Patrick MurtaghAustralian rules football International Player Pathway TEDetroit LionsInvited to NFL’s IPP international scouting combine in London. Following the combine was selected to take part in a training camp at the IMG Academy in Florida. Assigned by IPP to Detroit Lions on May 4, 2023.2023Lou HedleyAustralian rules football Miami Hurricanes PNew Orleans Saints202317Signed by New Orleans as an undrafted free agent on April 30 2023. 2022 Daniel Faalele Rugby unionMinnesota Golden Gophers GJacksonville Jaguars202266 Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round, 110th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. On August 19, 2026, Faalele was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2027 sixth-round pick.2021Max DuffyAustralian rules footballKentucky Wildcats PDenver BroncosSigned with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent on 24 May 2021. He was waived on 17 June. after the Toronto Argonauts selected Duffy in the fourth round of the 2021 CFL global draft on 15 April 2021. 34 games during his collegiate career at Kentucky University Duffy averaged 46 yards on his 151 collegiate punts, and he earned All-SEC honors in both 2019 and 2020. He also received a unanimous first-team All-American nod in 2019 and won the 2019 Ray Guy Award.2020Arryn SipossAustralian rules football Auburn Tigers PDetroit Lions202132Signed with the Eagles on January 13, 2021, and made his debut in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.2020Matt LeoAustralian rules football Rugby leagueIowa State Cyclones DEPhiladelphia EaglesSigned to the Philadelphia Eagles practice September 6th, 2020, waived, placed on reserve/COVID-19 squad July 28th, 2021, activated September 8th, 2021 waved and resigned to the Eagles practice squad September 9th, 2021.2019Valentine HolmesRugby leagueInternational Player Pathway RB/KRNew York JetsNew York Jets Running Back/Punt Returner ()*2019Mitch WishnowskyAustralian rules footballUtah Utes PSan Francisco 49ers2019105110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.2018Jordan MailataRugby leagueInternational Player Pathway OTPhiladelphia Eagles202090233rd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft.2018Michael DicksonAustralian rules football Texas Longhorns PSeattle Seahawks2018133Drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round, 149th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft.2018Keith WrzuszczakPole vaultEastern Kentucky Colonels PIndianapolis ColtsWrzuszczak went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. Was unsuccessful in competing for Colts punting spot. He averaged 41.4 yards per punt, which was six-best in the nation in 2017 and broke the 51-year-old EKU record of 78 yards with an 84-yard punt against Tennessee-Martin.2017Cameron JohnstonAustralian rules footballOhio State Buckeyes PPhiladelphia Eagles2018 100 Signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on 11 May 2017. He was waived on 2 September 2017. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on 3 January 2018. Philadelphia Eagles (2017–2020) Houston Texans (2021–2023) Pittsburgh Steelers (2024–present)2016Adam GotsisAustralian rules footballGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets DTDenver Broncos2016128 2nd Rnd, 63rd overall pick in the 2016 draft. The highest ever for an Australian. Fifth-year defensive end spent the first four seasons of his career in Denver before signing with Jacksonville Jaguars in August 2, 2020.2016Lac EdwardsAustralian rules footballSam Houston Bearkats PNew York Jets201674235th overall pick in the seventh round at the 2016 NFL draft. New York Jets (2016–2019)
Carolina Panthers (2021–present) 2016Blake MuirGridiron footballBaylor Bears OG/OTAtlanta FalconsSigned as an undrafted rookie with the San Francisco 49ers. Moved to the practice squad with the Green Bay Packers and then Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 season. Was part of the Falcons team that won the 2016 NFC Championship game and played in Super Bowl LI. Was All Big 12 in 2015 and honorable mention 2014 for Baylor Bears as an offensive lineman. Started all 37 games as a college player. Transferred from University of Hawai'i where he started 12 games at left tackle as a redshirt Freshman.2016Tom HackettAustralian rules footballUtah Utes PNew York JetsSigned as an undrafted rookie on 1 May 2016 and waived on 28 July 2016 after the team re-signed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. In Salt Lake City the 23-year-old won two Ray Guy Awards and earned two Consensus All-American selections and All-Pac-12 1st Team 2013, 2014, 2015 and named in the Pac-12 All-Century team.2016Joel WilkinsonAustralian rules footballNone DBArizona CardinalsThe Cardinals signed the 24-year-old, who used to play for the Gold Coast Suns, as a cornerback. 2015 Jarryd Hayne Rugby league None RB San Francisco 49ers 2015 8 3 March 2015, 49ers sign Hayne's as a running back (undrafted free agent), three-year contract with US$100,000 guarantee. 2015 Jordan Berry Australian rules football Gridiron football Eastern Kentucky Colonels P Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 108 Steelers sign punter Berry to their offseason roster in April. Berry was a three-time All-OVC punter and part of a punting unit that ranked first in the OVC and fifth nationally (FCS) in net punting at 39.08 yards per punt in 2014. Pittsburgh Steelers (2015–2020)
Minnesota Vikings (2021–present) 2015 Sam Irwin-Hill Australian rules football Arkansas Razorbacks P Indianapolis Colts Colts sign punter Sam a two-time Ray Guy Award candidate on a tryout basis in the rookie mini-camp – undrafted free agent. Best known for his memorable 51-yard touchdown against Texas A&M in September 2014. Colts cut the Arkansas graduate and, after being waived by a couple of teams, he signed with San Diego Fleet in October 2018. 2014 Tom Hornsey Australian rules football Memphis Tigers P Dallas Cowboys Hornsey went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft after winning the Ray Guy Award last season – presented annually to the nation's top college punter. Played preseason with Dallas Cowboys, waived 26 August 2014 after 2 games. Hornsey took part in the New York Jets' rookie minicamp in the spring of 2014. Cowboys re-Sign Hornsey as possible competition for restricted Jones – 17 February 2015 2014 Alex Dunnachie Australian rules football Hawaii Rainbow Warriors P New York Jets Dunnachie went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. Was unsuccessful in competing for Jet punting spot. He averaged 46.2 yards per punt, which was fourth-best in the nation in 2013. Dunnachie landed a spot punting for the SoCal Coyotes in a 1AAA league in the USA. 2013 Brad Wing Australian rules football LSU Tigers P New York Giants 2014 64 Wing went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft and was signed by Philadelphia Eagles. After being released by the Eagles – 25 August 2013, Wing played a preseason game with New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. Added to Pittsburgh Steelers team roster for 2014 season on a 1-year/$420k contract, including an annual average salary of $420,000. He became the first Australian to throw for points in the NFL (threw a two-point conversion). 2016–17 season starts with the Giants giving Wing a 3-year/$6.425 million contract. Pittsburgh Steelers (2014)
New York Giants (2015–2017) 2013 Jesse Williams Gridiron football Alabama Crimson Tide DT Seattle Seahawks Williams was taken in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the 137th overall selection by the Seattle Seahawks. Williams signed a 4-year/$2.37 million contract, including a $211,052 signing bonus, with $211,052 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $592,763. First native Australian to win a Super Bowl ring after Seattle's victory in Super Bowl XLVIII . Williams was cut after the 2015 season after battling injury and cancer and failing to make a first team start. 2012 Hayden Smith Basketball