By Michael Preston
Think of Australians in the NFL and you think punters. Darren Bennett of the Chargers was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, the likes of Ben Graham and Mat McBriar enjoyed successful careers in the 2000s, and there remains an Antipodean punting presence on today’s rosters.
The list of non-punting Aussies playing at the highest level is a smaller one and an even more exclusive group is those who played the game at the amateur level in their homeland before succeeding in the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Adam Gotsis is among those elite few and as the AFC playoff picture takes shape with only a handful of weeks remaining in the 2023 season, he has his sights set on the ultimate NFL prize: a Super Bowl ring.
Drafted by the Broncos in 2016, Gotsis was hindered by ACL injuries in Denver, but has since found a new lease of life in Jacksonville.
“I came into the NFL injured and it took me a while to get going and then I hurt my ACL again, which was twice in four years,” explained Gotsis. “I got a second chance here in Jacksonville and we went through some tough years here, but now we’re playing good football and I’m happy to be a part of that.”
Last season the Jaguars reached the postseason but fell to eventual champions the Kansas City Chiefs at the Divisional Round hurdle. Heading into Week 14 this year, they sit on top of the AFC South division with an 8-4 record, one game ahead of the 7-5 Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.
“I feel that with these guys we can go anywhere and win anywhere, and we’ve shown that, whether it’s at home, London or anywhere on the road and we’ve got to feed on that,” said Gotsis, speaking to IFAF Media earlier in the campaign after the Jaguars had beaten the Saints in New Orleans. “We have belief in ourselves as a team no matter how tough the situation.”
If that confidence translates into a Super Bowl berth, Gotsis would be the first player whose career began on the gridiron in Australia to play on the ultimate stage, having first represented the Monash Warriors in Melbourne and then the Australian national team. Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata lined up for the Philadelphia Eagles last season in SB LVII, the former rugby player having progressed through the NFL International Player Pathway. Jesse Williams began his career with the Bayside Ravens in Queensland and won a Super Bowl XLVIII ring as a non-playing practice squad member of the Seattle Seahawks.
For Gotsis, the pathway to an opportunity to play college football in the United States and ultimately in the NFL began with a simple Facebook message to current Australian women’s flag football national team head coach Paul Manera.
“I was about 16 and Paul was hosting a Bring It On Sports bowl game up in Queensland for a bunch of high school football players from America who came to play an exhibition game and they mixed a bunch of Aussies in with them,” explained Gotsis. “So, I ended up reaching out to Paul, letting him know I was interested. I’d never met him before that and he was courteous enough to shoot me an invite.
“I went out there played in the tournament, got to meet him and I think from that moment that’s where our connection happened. I think he saw a lot of a lot of potential in me and he put me in touch with a lot of people. Without that, I’d never get to where I am now.”
Gotsis went on to earn a scholarship at Georgia Tech, playing all four years while making a point to graduate before declaring for the NFL Draft, a degree in business administration. He was a second-round pick, 63rdoverall, of the Broncos in 2016 and first signed with the Jaguars in 2020.
Eight years into his career, he is now paying forward the help that he received from the likes of Manera and former Australian national team coach John Leijten. Along with Williams, he is helping the next generation of Australians along the pathway that leads to college football and beyond.
“I’m trying to help Jesse out and there’s a lot of potential back there in Australia with athletes whether they’re gridiron, rugby or footy athletes who are trying to find their next thing or find the sport that fits them a bit better,” Gotsis added. “If we can help take some guys, especially at the grassroots level, then hopefully in the next ten years we can get more over to college that are non-punters.
“There’s also a few Aussie O linemen right now and D lineman out there in college so it’s about getting in touch with those guys and getting them to reach out to us on social media so we can give them the lowdown, the tips and stuff because you want to see your brothers coming through the system. It’s good always good pass down that knowledge on how you did it, to always offer up support. Even if it’s not to the NFL, get a college degree, help him better his family or better his opportunities.”
Regardless of whether Gotsis wins a Super Bowl title with the Jaguars, he will be hailed as an Australian champion of the gridiron for his performances both on and off the field.
Photo: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
