The Players and Coaches Not Born in the United States
Although the US is a country of newcomers, the NFL is largely led by US-born players. Only five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the game by attending college in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.
Cook’s Surprising Path to the League
Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
This is where he met Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, maximising time on the training ground, working closely with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and routines: learning to take care of their health and handle a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”
Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and require support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when people realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”
Advantages of Coming From Beyond the US System
Originating from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.
International Athletes and Their Journeys
Foreign players have typically been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started American football in his teenage years. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming environment, a excellent team, a top franchise.”
Despite devoting the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return
