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While the United States is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is still led by American-born athletes. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to university in the United States. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would switch my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. 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 often get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with younger players from around the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: learning to look after their health and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and need help in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Outside the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, 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 organizations are varied than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

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

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have typically 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 England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part 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 Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a great squad, a great organization.”

Despite spending most of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he represents not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back