Former rugby league player from New Zealand who won a Super Bowl ring with Philadelphia before joining the Chargers' offensive line.
Laekin Vakalahi's path to the NFL is about as unusual as they come: raised on rugby league in Australia and New Zealand, he was discovered through the league's International Player Pathway program and signed with the Eagles without ever having played American football. He is now working to establish himself as an offensive tackle with the Chargers.
Path to the league
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Vakalahi played junior rugby league in Brisbane and Melbourne before a chance meeting with an Eagles scout, who was drawn to his 35-inch arms and 83-inch wingspan, redirected him toward football. After training at an Australian performance academy, he signed with Philadelphia in May 2024 as an undrafted free agent on a three-year International Player Pathway contract, having never played a snap of organized football.
Career highlights
Vakalahi made the Eagles' practice squad as a rookie and was on the roster when Philadelphia defeated Kansas City 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX in February 2025, earning him a championship ring in his first year in the sport. He re-signed with Philadelphia on a reserve/futures deal before being released in the following preseason's roster cuts.
2025 season recap
After his release from the Eagles, Vakalahi did not appear in a regular-season game in 2025. He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he is now competing for a roster spot as an offensive tackle.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Laekin Vakalahi
- ESPN: Laekin Vakalahi
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- -
- Hometown
- Brisbane, ACT, Australia
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
