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While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born athletes. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the game by going to college in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and quickly wanted to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and schedules: how to look after their health and handle a massive playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes 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 each team but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a great squad, a top organization.”

Despite devoting the majority of training with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “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, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation beyond the US. The better every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return