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.

David Lonie (2006)

David Lonie started his athletic career as an Australian record-setting track athlete in high school who also excelled in soccer and water polo. He then came to the USA where he was a Junior College All-American Honorable mention in his sophomore year at Ellsworth Community College (Iowa).

Lonie then transferred to the University of California-Berkeley where, in his senior season, he was the 3rd leading punter in the Pac-10 (now Pac-12) conference. After college, Lonie signed with the Washington Redskins, where he was a backup for the 2006 season.

After signing with the Green Bay Packers in the offseason, Lonie sustained an injury and was placed on injured reserve before reaching an injury settlement. This essentially ended his NFL career.

Sav Rocca (2007-2013)

After a relatively successful career in Australia, Sav Rocca realized he needed to come to the NFL if he wanted to continue his career as an athlete — his body could no longer take the punishment of Australian Rules Football, so his only hope was to become a punter.

That is precisely what he did. After failing to make training camp with the Buffalo Bills in 2006, Rocca caught on with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007. Rocca beat out incumbent Dirk Johnson for the punting job that season in a very close battle that culminated on the final day of cuts, and became the oldest rookie in NFL history at age 33.

After a successful stint with the Eagles, Rocca signed with the Redskins in free agency for the 2011 season. He played through a torn meniscus in 2012 before playing one last season in 2013.

Rocca is now working as a mentor to players in Australian Rules Football.

Next: More Successful Aussies