From Gridiron Australia’s Monash Warriors to the NFL
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.”
