Brisbane Broncos to Chicago Bears: Is Ben Te Kura set to be Jordan Mailata 2.0 in the NFL?

Right now, NFL training camps are in full swing on the other side of the Pacific.

Read more Judge Halts Minnesota’s Prediction Market Ban, Giving Kalshi and Polymarket Temporary Win

Brisbane Broncos fans are watching on with more than a passing interest as the club’s former leviathan forward Ben Te Kura chases an unlikely second career in American football.

Te Kura, 22, was given an early contract release in July after the Broncos had previously granted him leave back in April to chase interest from NFL scouts. 

Standing at a towering 205cm and weighing around 125kg Te Kura made just five appearances for the Broncos and was one of the biggest players in NRL history, even taller than former Storm monster Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

MORE: NFL’s 25 highest-paid players in 2026

Ultimately it was this size, plus concerns he was simply too big to keep up with the pace and demands of modern rugby league, that led to a pivot to the NFL.

If that all sounds familiar, it’s pretty much the same story that saw Jordan Mailata transformed from an imposing South Sydney junior into a Super Bowl-winning left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mailata is clearly the template Te Kura’s camp is leaning on and the 22-year old is walking in the footsteps of giants, quite literally.

Where do things stand now?

Te Kura has already worked out for two NFL clubs during tryouts this month, the Chicago Bears and reigning Super Bowl champions the Seattle Seahawks, with his agent reportedly also fielding interest from several other franchises. 

In reality Te Kura isn’t chasing a 2026 season NFL debut, but rather looking more towards 2027 meaning the rest of this year is all about training, bulking up even further and learning the nuances of a sport he’s never really played.

Read more Tres Piñatas Hold & Win Slot Review

What kind of money could Ben Te Kura earn in the NFL?

If Te Kura lands directly on an NFL playing roster minimum rookie deals pay around AU$1–1.2 million a season — well above his previous Broncos salary. 

Even a practice squad spot which shapes as a more realistic short-term outcome pays around AU$320,000 a year.

But of course the real prize could await down the track. 

If Te Kura is able to mirror Mailata’s NFL success, he could eventually chase contracts worth upwards of AU$30 million a season — more than an entire NRL club’s 30-player salary cap.

What’s next?

All 32 NFL clubs must trim their rosters to 53 players by August 30, with practice squads formed after that.

If no team signs Te Kura this year he’s then likely to enter the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, a dedicated route created for overseas talent ahead of a push to get signed for the 2027 NFL season.

It’s still a long shot, but so was Jordan Mailata back in 2018 and he’s now one of the best-paid linemen in the NFL.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Your Favorite Players, Favorite Page 🔌 (@chicago.sports.fans.daily)

Read more Are Devin Booker and Irina Shayk dating? Suns star’s New York sighting raises questions