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While the US is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still dominated by American-born players. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by attending college in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained 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.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to train younger players from around the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very active position, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and schedules: how to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love 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’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when players realize that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”

Benefits of Being Outside the US System

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have staff from various origins, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

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

Foreign Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says 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, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”

Although devoting most of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The better each one of us performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return