Former Gold Coast Suns-listed player Patrick Murtagh has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, becoming the first Australian from the 2024 International Player Pathway (IPP) class to land with an NFL team.
Murtagh, a tight end standing 6’6″ and 250 pounds, signed with the Jaguars after completing a 10-week IPP training program at the IMG Academy in Florida.
“It’s a great feeling getting the contract signed and getting day one completed now. The work’s only just starting now so I’m excited to get into it,” Murtaugh told the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“It’s a bit like a first day at school sort of vibe today. So it’s pretty cool meeting all the coaches, all the staff, all the players and everything, just finding my feet around here.”
The former Sun’s path to the NFL wasn’t without hurdles, having been initially allocated to the Detroit Lions as part of the 2023 IPP class before injury saw him have to return home early on.
“A tremendous amount of work’s been put in, a lot of behind the scenes work as well before getting into the IPP. That’s a credit to my friends, my family, the team back home and my network that have put in the hours to get me back in shape.”
Murtagh brings the Jaguars’ Australian tally up to two, with veteran defensive lineman Adam Gotsis going into his fifth season in Jacksonville.
“I got to meet the fellow Aussie, Adam, he’s from Melbourne and I’m from the Gold Coast, so about a two-hour flight away. It’s really good, a really good connection already, so I can see that growing a lot more,” he said.
The converted tight end’s athleticism and size was on show at the IPP Pro Day held at the University of South Florida last month, where his 10’4″ broad jump wouldn’t been tied for third best at the NFL combine, as well as displaying his impressive catch radius with a one-handed grab during positional drills.
“It’s been a whirlwind and it’s been so exciting, now getting through that camp and finally being put on a list. Once I put the helmet on and the jersey on and get outside and start training, it’s going to all start to sink in a bit,” he said.
The Jaguars emerging as the team to invest in the Australia’s athletic upside doesn’t come as a total surprise. General Manager Trent Baalke was part of the NFL’s international scouting efforts before being hired by Jacksonville, leading the evaluating team at the Oceania NFL International Combine on the Gold Coast back in 2018.
Reflecting on his rapid journey from Queensland to the familiar warm weather of Jacksonville, Murtagh points to a blend of self-belief and being unafraid to test new boundaries.
“Honestly, never give up, never put a ceiling on your dreams. Anything is possible, especially at a young age … get your hands on all different ball sports, do everything you can and just make the most of it and enjoy it,” he said.
“It’s never too late. I was playing AFL two years ago and now here I am, just signed a contract in the NFL.”