Although Jordan Mailata is an NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles, his first love was never American football. Back in 2018, Mailata switched his rugby career when the Eagles picked him in the 2018 draft, seeing his stature, strength and agility. After getting chosen by the Eagles, many people raised their eyebrows on whether Mailata would succeed in the NFL. But six years down the line and a Super Bowl appearance in 2023, the offensive tackle remains an integral part of the Eagles’ defense.

Well, his NFL career is not the only thing that has changed the Eagles’ tackle life. As last year, he tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Niki Ikahihifo Bender, whom he met back in 2018. To make their marriage more memorable, the couple decided to exchange their vows at the same place where they bumped into each other for the first time.

In Philadelphia’s crowded Reading Market, Niki was in town to appear at her father’s 50th medical school reunion. Meanwhile, Mailata was hanging out with his friends while trying to find a place to grab lunch. Four years later, they were in the same place, with Jordan going down on one knee to express his love to Niki.

As for Niki, she grew up in Alaska with her sister Jade and her parents, Thomas Bender and Talita Ikahihifo, both associated with the medical field. Niki went on to finish her first degree at Baldwin University while completing her major in psychology at New York University. But her true passion was unlocked when Bender decided to join Duke University’s law school. From there, she completed her law studies while receiving her master’s in psychology.

To expand her portfolio of knowledge, Niki decided to intern at BP and Lane Powell PC. Once she was done with her internships, Bender got her first full-time job working as an associate for Norton Rose Fulbright in 2016. After garnering enough experience for two years, she joined Ballard Spahr LLP as an associate. Currently, she could be working as an intellectual property associate, as per her LinkedIn profile.

Although she remains a successful lawyer in her professional career, Niki is a strong supporter of her husband’s career. When Jordan agreed to his contract extension this year while on a honeymoon trip to Italy. He jumped on to appreciate the role of his wife by mentioning how she kept him in line from the time they first met. Well, this was not the only time when Mailata made her wife feel special, as their marriage ceremony had a few surprises.

Jordan Mailata and Niki’s wedding ceremony

On July 2023, the Eagles OT Jordan Mailata and Niki Mailata had their dream marriage ceremony take place in Maui, Hawaii. But it was the Australian former rugby player who managed to grab everyone’s attention with his singing skills. Standing at 6 foot 8 inches, Mailata showcased his strong and pitch-perfect voice to sing his wife Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely.” Well, this was not the first time Mailata delivered a song in front of an audience.

Earlier in 2022, Mailata was spotted appearing on The Masked Singer show, where he wowed the judges with his singing as Thingamabob. Opening up after his performance on the night, Mailata expressed, “I was a singer first before any sort of athlete.” It seems Mailata is a man of many talents alongside the tackles he puts on the gridiron. But unfortunately, his run on the show was short-lived, as the Eagles star was eliminated in week 3.

After elimination, Mailata conveyed, “This has been an incredible experience for me. I want to say, if you want to do something, just do it.” But singing wasn’t the only special thing that occurred at Jordan and Niki’s wedding, as the bride expressed, “Both Jordan and I are Polynesian. Jordan is Samoan, and I am Tongan.” Therefore, the couple had a fire show planned by a group of Polynesian fire dances to end their special night.

With the regular season almost on the horizon, can Mailata continue his footballing talents while pushing the Eagles to yet another playoff run after their heartbreak in the Super Bowl LVII against the Chiefs? As fans, we can only wait and watch it unfold within a few weeks.

Moving aside from the Jordan and Niki love story, if you want to learn about Chris Gronkowski’s NFL journey, then check out our recent interview with him on the Dual Threat Podcast with BG12.