\n
Mailata spent two seasons on Philadelphia’s practice squad, continuing his development.<\/p>\n
“It was a grind for a few years,” said Stoutland. “Then all of a sudden one day, I mean it, the light came on and he became confident in his knowledge. Every year he just went to a new level.”<\/p>\n
Mailata played his first game in 2020 and has become one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in 2023, where they were beaten by the Chiefs.<\/p>\n
Last year he signed a three-year contract extension worth $66m (\u00a353.3m) and is a key part of what was the biggest offensive line in Super Bowl history.<\/p>\n
As an offensive tackle, he blocks the opposition’s defensive line to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was Sunday’s Most Valuable Player, and open gaps for Saquon Barkley to run through.<\/p>\n
The Eagles running back got enough yards on Sunday to set the all-time record for rushing yards in a season, including the play-offs, at 2,504.<\/p>\n
“Saquon always says that he can’t be great without the greatness of others,” said Mailata after Sunday’s game.<\/p>\n
“When I hear that I’m like ‘you know what, maybe it is me and not all Saquon, maybe there’s just a small chance’.”<\/p>\n
Live primetime games feature player introductions and they state which college they played at. Since Mailata did not follow the traditional path to the NFL, he says ‘Stoutland University’.<\/p>\n
And Stoutland believes that Mailata, 27, can get even better, adding “I don’t think there’s a top to this.<\/p>\n
“Most players you coach, they’ve played through high school and college, so when they get to this level they’re done, they’re tapped out. But not him.”<\/p>\n
Asked if he can believe how far he’s come, Stoutland replied: “It’s the greatest story in football, I mean it.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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