Former Australian rugby player Jordan Petaia has officially signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, marking a significant shift from rugby to American football. Petaia, aged 25, brings with him a wealth of international rugby experience, having played 31 Tests and participated in two Rugby World Cups with the Australian national team, the Wallabies.

Petaia has joined the Chargers under the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program after undergoing 10 weeks of specialized training at the IMG Academy in Florida. This program, which was launched in 2017, provides elite athletes from other sports with an opportunity to make the transition into the NFL.

After wrapping up his rugby career in December 2024, Petaia left behind six successful seasons with the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby. His transition to American football comes with high expectations, and the Chargers have confirmed that Petaia will be working closely with tight ends coach Andy Bischoff and the team’s other tight ends as he prepares for his new role on the field.

Petaia’s journey to the NFL began at a young age. At 19, he became Australia’s youngest player to feature in a Rugby World Cup, debuting in 2019 against Uruguay in Japan. Reflecting on his decision to pursue a career in the NFL, Petaia shared that it was a dream he once shared with his father, who passed away in 2020. “He’d be looking down and shouting at me to take the opportunity. I think I probably would have regretted it if I didn’t,” Petaia expressed in an interview last year.

The NFL’s International Player Pathway program continues to open doors for athletes like Petaia, who bring a diverse skill set from other sports. His signing with the Los Angeles Chargers marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his athletic career.

Stay tuned for updates on Petaia’s journey in the NFL as he takes on the challenge of mastering American football after a successful rugby career.