Mason Cox is an American-born Australian rules footballer who became one of the most unusual success stories in Australian Football League history. Born in Highland Village, Texas, on March 14, 1991, Cox was already in his early 20s when he first encountered Australian rules football. Before that, he had played soccer and college basketball in the United States and had studied engineering at Oklahoma State University. He eventually moved to Australia and developed into a professional AFL ruck-forward.
Cox spent the first 11 seasons of his AFL career with Collingwood, becoming one of the club’s most recognizable cult figures. Standing at 211 centimetres, or about 6 feet 11 inches, he was the tallest player ever measured at an AFL Draft Combine and used his extraordinary reach and marking ability to become a dangerous target around the goals. His most famous achievement came in 2023 when he became the first American to win an AFL premiership with Collingwood.
After Collingwood delisted him at the end of the 2025 season, Cox’s AFL career appeared to be entering its final chapter. Instead, he earned another opportunity with Fremantle in 2026. The move has extended his remarkable football journey, and in September 2026 he was part of Fremantle’s finals campaign, even kicking a goal in the Dockers’ thrilling semi-final victory over Geelong.
Mason Cox Profile Summary
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Mason Troy Cox |
| Known As | Mason Cox, Coxy, Coxzilla, American Pie |
| Date of Birth | March 14, 1991 |
| Age | 35 |
| Birthplace | Highland Village, Texas, United States |
| Nationality | American and Australian |
| Profession | Australian rules footballer |
| Current Club | Fremantle Football Club |
| Previous Club | Collingwood Football Club |
| Position | Ruckman / Key Forward |
| Height | 211 cm (6 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | About 110 kg |
| College | Oklahoma State University |
| AFL Debut | 2016 |
| AFL Premiership | 2023 |
| Premiership Club | Collingwood |
| Australian Citizenship | 2022 |
| Parents | Jeanette and Phil Cox |
| Siblings | Nolan and Austin Cox |
| Relationship Status | Private |
| Religion | Not reliably documented |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Mason Cox Early Life
Mason Troy Cox was born on March 14, 1991, in Highland Village, Texas, a community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He was the youngest of three sons born to Jeanette and Phil Cox. His older brothers, Nolan and Austin, also became involved in Australian rules football later in life, making the family’s connection with the sport much deeper than Cox’s original introduction to it.
Cox attended Edward S. Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas, where soccer was his principal sport. He was part of a state championship-winning soccer team and developed the athletic coordination that would later help him transition into Australian rules football. One of his school and college acquaintances was Marcus Smart, who went on to become an NBA player.
Australian rules football was almost completely unknown to Cox during his childhood and teenage years. Unlike many AFL players, he did not grow up kicking an oval-shaped football or watching the sport. His eventual discovery of the game came only after college, making his transformation into an AFL professional one of the most improbable stories in modern Australian sport.
Mason Cox Education
Cox attended Edward S. Marcus High School in Flower Mound, where he combined academics with his sporting commitments. His early athletic background was primarily soccer, and he was not initially regarded as an Australian rules football prospect because he had never played the game.
He later attended Oklahoma State University, where he studied engineering. His enormous frame initially attracted attention in basketball, and he joined the Oklahoma State basketball program as a walk-on after first participating with the team’s scout group. Between 2011 and 2014, he played 24 games and accumulated 57 minutes of NCAA basketball action.
Although Cox never became a major college basketball player, his time at Oklahoma State proved crucial to his future. His height, athleticism and competitive background eventually caught the attention of Australian rules football recruiters. He graduated from Oklahoma State in 2014 and was even considering an engineering career with ExxonMobil before the unexpected opportunity to pursue professional Australian rules football changed his life.
Mason Cox Career
From American Basketball to Australian Rules Football
Cox’s professional sporting journey began in an unusual way. In 2014, at 23 years old, he was invited to the United States International Combine in Los Angeles for prospective Australian rules football players. He had almost no knowledge of the sport, but his combination of size, agility and athletic ability immediately attracted attention.
He subsequently travelled to Australia for another assessment and impressed AFL recruiters. Collingwood ultimately signed him in May 2014, and he was selected by the Magpies with pick No. 60 in the 2015 rookie draft. His decision was particularly bold because it meant abandoning a conventional engineering career in the United States to move across the world and learn a sport he had only recently discovered.
Mason Cox at Collingwood
Cox initially played for Collingwood’s reserves in the Victorian Football League while learning the basic skills and tactical demands of Australian rules football. His improvement was rapid enough that he earned an AFL opportunity in 2016.
His AFL debut came on Anzac Day in 2016 against Essendon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Cox famously kicked the opening goal with his first kick in the AFL, immediately creating one of the most memorable beginnings to an Australian football career.
Cox gradually became an important member of Collingwood’s forward and ruck structure. His greatest weapon was his aerial presence. At 211 centimetres, he could reach balls that many defenders could not, while his ability to take contested marks made him especially valuable inside the forward 50.
The 2018 Preliminary Final
One of the defining moments of Cox’s Collingwood career came during the 2018 finals series. Against Richmond in the preliminary final, he produced a spectacular performance, kicking three goals in the opening quarter and helping Collingwood eliminate the heavily favoured Tigers.
The performance turned Cox from an intriguing American experiment into a genuine AFL cult hero. Collingwood reached the Grand Final that year but lost a dramatic contest to West Coast, meaning Cox had to wait several more years for a premiership.
Eye Injuries and the Rise of American Pie
Cox endured several serious eye problems during his career, eventually requiring multiple surgeries and later wearing prescription protective goggles during games. The injuries added another layer to his reputation for toughness and perseverance.
His American background also made him a constant source of fascination for Australian fans. Supporters embraced nicknames including “American Pie,” “Coxy” and “Coxzilla.” His ability to develop an Australian accent, understand the game’s culture and become an important member of an AFL club made him a symbol of how international athletes could find opportunities in Australian rules football.
2023 AFL Premiership
The defining achievement of Cox’s Collingwood career came in 2023. Collingwood defeated Brisbane in the AFL Grand Final to win the premiership, with Cox playing in all three finals after appearing in 19 games during the season. He consequently became the first American to win an AFL premiership.
The premiership was particularly significant because of how unlikely the journey had been. Cox had not even known the basic rules of Australian rules football when he arrived in Australia less than a decade earlier. By 2023, he had become a premiership player and one of the most recognizable American athletes in Australian sport.
Delisting from Collingwood
Cox’s 11-year association with Collingwood ended after the 2025 season. The club announced that he would not receive a new contract for 2026, bringing his Collingwood career to an end after 139 games and 127 goals.
Cox’s departure was emotional because he had become closely associated with the club and its supporters. Rather than immediately retiring, however, he indicated that he was interested in seeing what opportunities remained for him in professional football.
Mason Cox at Fremantle
In November 2025, Fremantle gave Cox another opportunity by signing him through the Supplemental Selection Period. He joined the Dockers in 2026 wearing No. 18 and provided experienced depth as a ruck-forward.
The move initially appeared to be a late-career opportunity, but Cox became a useful contributor in Fremantle’s strong 2026 campaign. He played his first match for the Dockers in Round 6 and scored his first Fremantle goal in Round 7.
By the finals, Cox was still contributing at AFL level. In Fremantle’s September 11 semi-final against Geelong, he marked inside the forward line and converted a set shot as the Dockers eventually won 120-106 to advance to the preliminary final.
Mason Cox Trending: Why Is Mason Cox Famous?
Mason Cox is trending in September 2026 because his extraordinary late-career AFL journey is continuing with Fremantle. After being delisted by Collingwood following the 2025 season, the 35-year-old did not retire and instead joined Fremantle. He has now helped the Dockers reach the 2026 preliminary final, extending one of the most unlikely AFL careers in modern football.
His appearance in Fremantle’s September 11 semi-final against Geelong has generated renewed attention because it showed that the veteran American-born player remains capable of influencing important matches. Cox marked inside 50 and kicked a goal during Fremantle’s six-goal opening quarter before the Dockers eventually won the thriller.
Cox’s broader story remains a major reason for his popularity. He went from an American engineering student and part-time college basketball player who had never played Australian rules football to an AFL premiership player, Australian citizen and now a veteran competing in his second AFL club.
Mason Cox Personal Life
Cox was raised in Texas by his parents, Jeanette and Phil Cox, alongside his two older brothers, Nolan and Austin. His brothers later became involved in Australian rules football themselves, with Nolan representing the United States at national-level competitions. This has helped make Australian football a family interest rather than simply a career Cox pursued on his own.
Cox has generally kept his romantic life away from the centre of his public profile. He was previously linked to England netball international Geva Mentor in 2019, but there is no reliable current public confirmation of a wife or long-term partner. He has generally focused his public identity on football, his American-Australian background and his work promoting the sport.
Cox also developed a strong connection with Australia during his years with Collingwood. He became an Australian citizen in June 2022 at a special citizenship ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The decision reflected his long-term commitment to Australia after moving there as a young adult and spending most of his professional life in the country.
Mason Cox Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Mason Cox is 35 years old, having been born on March 14, 1991. He was born in Highland Village, Texas, in the United States, and is American-born. He later became an Australian citizen in 2022 and is widely described as an American-Australian athlete.
Cox is officially listed at around 211 centimetres, or 6 feet 11 inches. His extraordinary height was one of the first things that attracted AFL recruiters, and he remains one of the tallest players to have played at the highest level of Australian rules football. His physical profile allows him to compete effectively in the ruck and act as a towering target in attack.
Cox’s religion has not been reliably documented in major authoritative sources, so it would be inappropriate to assign him a specific faith without stronger evidence. His most distinctive physical characteristic is clearly his exceptional height, combined with a large athletic frame that he has adapted to the physical demands of AFL football.
Mason Cox Net Worth
Mason Cox’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified by an authoritative financial source. AFL player salaries are not always publicly disclosed in a way that allows an accurate calculation of personal wealth, and Cox’s endorsement income, investments and other assets are private.
His financial position has nevertheless been supported by more than a decade as a professional AFL player. He spent 11 seasons with Collingwood before joining Fremantle, and his career has included multiple contracts, sponsorship opportunities and media appearances associated with his status as one of the league’s most recognizable international players.
Rather than assigning an unreliable celebrity-net-worth figure, it is more accurate to say that Cox has accumulated substantial professional earnings over his AFL career, although his precise personal wealth remains undisclosed. His move to Fremantle in 2026 also ensured that his professional football income continued beyond his departure from Collingwood.
Mason Cox Legacy
Mason Cox’s greatest legacy is the way he changed perceptions about who could become an AFL player. He did not grow up playing Australian rules football, was not an established professional athlete in another sport and only discovered the game in his early 20s. Despite that enormous disadvantage, he eventually became a regular AFL player and a premiership winner.
His 2018 preliminary-final performance and 2023 premiership remain the defining sporting moments of his career. The 2023 victory was particularly historic because it made Cox the first American to win an AFL premiership, providing a powerful example of the opportunities available to international athletes willing to learn the sport.
Cox has also helped strengthen the connection between American athletes and Australian rules football. His story has been featured by major American and Australian media, and his success has demonstrated that athletes from other sporting backgrounds can transition into the AFL. Even after leaving Collingwood, his continuation with Fremantle in 2026 has added another remarkable chapter to the Mason Cox story.
Conclusion
Mason Cox’s career is one of the most unusual success stories in Australian sport. A Texas-born engineering graduate who once knew almost nothing about Australian rules football transformed himself from a college basketball walk-on into a 211-centimetre AFL ruck-forward, Collingwood cult hero, 2023 premiership player and Australian citizen. After 139 games with Collingwood, he continued his career with Fremantle in 2026 and, at 35, remains part of the Dockers’ finals campaign. His journey demonstrates how athletic ability, persistence and a willingness to start from scratch can turn an unlikely opportunity into a historic sporting career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mason Cox
Who is Mason Cox?
Mason Cox is an American-born Australian rules footballer who plays as a ruckman and key forward for Fremantle in the AFL.
How old is Mason Cox?
Mason Cox is 35 years old. He was born on March 14, 1991.
Where was Mason Cox born?
Mason Cox was born in Highland Village, Texas, United States.
How tall is Mason Cox?
Mason Cox is approximately 211 centimetres tall, or 6 feet 11 inches.
What team does Mason Cox play for?
Mason Cox plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League. He joined Fremantle in 2026 after 11 seasons with Collingwood.
Did Mason Cox play for Collingwood?
Yes. Cox played 139 AFL games for Collingwood between 2016 and 2025 and kicked 127 goals for the club.
Did Mason Cox win an AFL premiership?
Yes. Mason Cox was part of Collingwood’s 2023 AFL premiership team and became the first American to win an AFL premiership.
When did Mason Cox start playing Australian rules football?
Mason Cox began playing Australian rules football in 2014 when he was 23 years old. Before that, he had played soccer and college basketball in the United States.
Did Mason Cox play basketball?
Yes. Cox played college basketball as a walk-on at Oklahoma State University. He appeared in 24 games across three seasons and recorded 57 minutes of NCAA basketball action.
Is Mason Cox Australian?
Mason Cox was born American but became an Australian citizen in 2022. He is therefore commonly described as an American-Australian.
Is Mason Cox married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Mason Cox is currently married. He generally keeps his personal relationships private.
Who was Mason Cox’s girlfriend?
Mason Cox was previously linked to England international netball player Geva Mentor in 2019. His current relationship status is not reliably documented.
Why is Mason Cox famous?
Mason Cox is famous for becoming a professional AFL player despite not playing Australian rules football until his 20s. He became a Collingwood premiership player in 2023 and later continued his career with Fremantle.
What is Mason Cox’s nickname?
Some of Mason Cox’s best-known nicknames are “American Pie,” “Coxy” and “Coxzilla.”
Why did Mason Cox leave Collingwood?
Collingwood decided not to offer Cox a new contract after the 2025 season. He subsequently joined Fremantle for the 2026 season.
What is Mason Cox doing in 2026?
Mason Cox is playing for Fremantle in the AFL. In September 2026, he was part of Fremantle’s finals campaign and kicked a goal in the Dockers’ semi-final victory over Geelong.