🔗 Share this article

While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Only 5% of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the sport by going to university in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to take care of their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and require support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Originating from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh 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 the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He stood out while playing for clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the field. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a excellent squad, a great organization.”

Although devoting the majority of training with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is always very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The more successful each one of us performs, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back