Jordan Mailata isn’t just losing a coach - he’s losing the coach who taught him everything he knows about football.
The Eagles’ left tackle, now one of the NFL’s premier blindside protectors, got emotional this week while reflecting on the departure of Jeff Stoutland, the only offensive line coach he’s ever had. And when Mailata says he “bawled [his] eyes out,” it’s not just a throwaway line - it’s the raw reaction of a player whose entire football journey has been shaped by one man.
“I’ll put it plain and simple - heartbroken,” Mailata said from Super Bowl radio row in San Francisco. “Yeah, it doesn’t feel good just because of everything I know, everything I’ve been taught has been by Stout.”
That’s not hyperbole. Mailata didn’t play high school football.
He didn’t go to college for it either. He was a rugby player from Australia who had never put on pads before the Eagles took a chance on him in 2018.
Stoutland took that raw athleticism and turned it into an All-Pro tackle. That kind of transformation is rare - and it speaks volumes about both the coach and the player.
In a league where coaching turnover is constant, following a legend like Stoutland is no small task. Whoever steps into that role will be under intense scrutiny, especially in a city like Philadelphia where offensive line play is part of the team’s identity.
“I’m interested to see where we go moving forward,” Mailata said. “But it’s gonna be an interesting challenge and I welcome it.”
Still, the emotion is real, and it’s not something Mailata is trying to hide. In another conversation during radio row, he opened up about the moment he learned Stoutland was stepping away.
“I talked to Stout and I couldn’t formulate a sentence. I was just crying,” Mailata said. “I told him I’d come see him as soon as I got back home.”
And while fans and followers have been asking him to post a tribute or make a public statement, Mailata isn’t rushing to put his feelings into a social media caption.
“I don’t think there are enough words to put in a social media post of what I think of the man and how much he’s helped change my life,” he said. “To be honest, selfishly, I’m very heartbroken.”
It’s a rare glimpse behind the curtain - a reminder that for all the talk of schemes, stats, and Sunday performances, football is still a deeply personal game. And for Jordan Mailata, Jeff Stoutland wasn’t just a coach. He was the foundation.