49ers’ Jarryd Hayne: One of many Australians to play in NFL

Success

These Aussies were also able to make a roster and played in NFL regular season games.

Mat McBriar (2003-2014)

Mat McBriar, whose career is likely over, took a somewhat different track to American Football. McBriar did not exhibit extreme prowess in Aussie Rules Football (though he did play it). Instead, he happened to gain the attention of, surprise, the University of Hawaii after performing well at a kicking competition sponsored by the NFL.

After a standout career as a punter at Hawaii, McBriar was signed by the Denver Broncos. Eventually he found his way to the Cowboys practice squad for the 2003 season before becoming the starter a year later. The 2-time Pro-Bowler became the second ever Australian to make the NFL’s All-Star Game in 2006. (He later made it in 2010.) In 2007 he became the then-highest paid punter in the NFL.

McBriar was especially talented at downing the ball in the Red Zone, setting a team-record 38 punts downed inside the 20 yard line in 2009.

After his career with the Cowboys ended due in part to uncertainty over a nerve issue in 2011, McBriar played one season each with the Eagles, Steelers, and Chargers, taking us to today, when McBriar is currently not on an NFL roster.

Ben Graham (2005-2012)

Ben Graham came to the NFL after a decade-long (and very successful) career in Australian Rules Football. In his time Down Under, Graham became known for long, accurate kicks. This clearly grabbed the attention of NFL teams, and in 2005 Graham came to the USA to play a different “code” of football.

Interestingly enough, Graham is also the only player to captain both an Aussie Rules team AND an NFL team, played in both leagues’ championship game, and was the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl.

Graham was first approached by an NFL team in 1997, when the New York Jets offered him a tryout as a punter. He turned them down then, but surprisingly changed his mind and came to try out for the NFL in 2004. This had the effect of providing him with a much higher salary. He signed his first contract in 2005 with the Jets, where he quickly became the starting punter.

After being released by the Jets in 2008, Graham extended his career by playing with the Saints, Cardinals and Lions — as well as playing for Australia in the 2011 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Cup. His career ended in 2012 when he reached an injury settlement with the Detroit Lions.

Next: More Successful Aussies