🔗 Share this article

While the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is largely dominated by US-born players. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by going to university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to train younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, similar to 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 out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very active position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: learning to take care of their health and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the same things and need support in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when players realize that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have people from various origins, a range 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 attracting international supporters than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at university, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a excellent team, a great franchise.”

Despite spending the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries beyond the US. The better each one of us performs, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return