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.

Chris Bryan (2010)

Chris Byran started playing professional Aussie Rules Football relatively late at age 22. After a short career Down Under, he trained to become an NFL punter, eventually signing with the Packers in 2010.

Though the Packers let him go before the regular season, Bryan landed a spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played his only NFL games before being released in October.

Bryan did find a team for the 2011 offseason, but did not make the final roster for the New York Jets. He has been a player-coach in Australia ever since.

Brad Wing (2013-14)

American football runs in Brad Wing’s blood, as Wing’s father played with the Scottish Clayemores in NFL Europe. Though Wing was unable to make it big as an Aussie Rules player, he did wind up punting for LSU.

He was signed by the Eagles after going undrafted in 2013, though he was cut in August, before the regular season began. In 2014 Wing found playing time with the Steelers. He has not done especially well in his Steelers tenure and currently finds himself in a position battle with a fellow Australian, Jordan Berry (whom we will get to later).

Wing is, however, the first Aussie to throw for points in the NFL, as he completed a pass for a two-point conversion in November 2014.

Next: Close, but No Cigar: Unsuccessful Aussies