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While the US is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by US-born players. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them step into the game by going to university in the United States. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend university in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust 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 around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from across the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very active role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and routines: learning to take care of their body and handle a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an actual 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 checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when people know that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the US System

Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.

International Players and Their Paths

International athletes have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering 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 just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out 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 held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent team, a great organization.”

Despite devoting most of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just his home countries. “I would say every nation beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back