Jordan Mailata, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles who won the Super Bowl, played league in Australia before he was drafted to American football in 2018. Photo / Getty Images
Jordan Mailata, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles who won the Super Bowl, played league in Australia before he was drafted to American football in 2018. Photo / Getty Images
Opinion by Dr Dion Enari & Dr Levi Fox
Levi Fox (Ngāti Porou Tūwharetoa) is an academic at Gold Coast Griffith University and Dion Enari a senior lecturer in sport leadership at Auckland University of Technology.
Seven Pasifika players in Super Bowl 2025 highlight a new pathway for Māori and Pasifika athletes.
American Football offers financial and educational benefits, with safer gear than rugby.
Polynesians are significantly represented in the NFL, with cultural events like the Polynesian Bowl.
Watching the Super Bowl final, could this be our new sport? With seven Pasifika players in the Super Bowl final, this may be the new pipeline for Māori and Pasifika athletes from New Zealand.
Māori and Pasifika have always dominated the New Zealand rugby scene, but has rugbyrun its course? Is it time for Māori and Pasifika here, to give American Football a go? We believe it is.
Wayne 'Buck' Shelford performs the Haka in 1989. Photo Bruce Jarvis
New Zealand has no shortage of Māori and Pasifika rugby role models from Sir Buck Shelford, La’auli Sir Michael Jones, Tuifa’asisina Sir Bryan Williams to Ardie Savea and Dame Professor Farah Palmer.
However, there’s an untapped market in American Football and it’s starting to sway our way.
It’s a sport where many in college make more than an All Black.
It’s also safer than rugby, with the thick pads and head gear, not to mention, the educational benefits to complete world-class degrees abroad, and be part of exclusive networks that aren’t available in New Zealand.
Dr Dion Enari.
For Māori and Pasifika thinking of playing American Football, the statistics are extremely favourable, with Samoans 56% more likely to play in the NFL than other ethnic groups.
Interestingly, although Polynesians make up less than 1% of the American population, they account for over 70 NFL players and over 400 in college football.
Polynesians from Australia have also played in the NFL, including Jarryd Hayne, Daniel Faalele and current Super Bowl champion player, Jordan Mailata, worth $116 million.
Dr Levi Fox.
Māori and Pasifika cultures are also solidified in American Football, with the annual Polynesian Bowl and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, spearheaded by Samoan NFL legends Seiuli Jesse Sapolu and Ma’a Tanuvasa.
Through the Polynesian Bowl, Māori and Pasifika athletes are able to train, play and learn their culture.
Such examples include the Samoan chants and Māori haka performed before and after they play.
A photo provided by Dwayne Johnson, the actor Dwayne Johnson at age 20.
The Polynesian Hall of Fame recognises the outstanding contribution of Polynesian American football pioneers. Such inducted icons include Seiuli Dwayne “The Rock Johnson” and Troy Polamalu.
Looking at these opportunities, who said one’s talents should be bound to the confines of New Zealand? You should go where your talents are valued, and also paid well for.
With statistics and support systems like this, the American dream, may become a reality for more of our Māori and Pasifika whānau.
