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While the US is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born players. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the game by going to university in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend college in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill 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 get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, optimizing time on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really active position, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had never played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish structure and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need 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 know that you are invested, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from beyond the NFL bubble 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 loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various origins, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who won the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He stood out while representing teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “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, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very welcoming culture, a excellent team, a great organization.”

Despite spending the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix 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 best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – played receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back