The Athletes and Coaches Not Born in the USA
Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Only 5% of participants are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by going to university in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.
Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League
For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend university in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my schedule 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 all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”
This is where he met 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 staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from across the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, optimizing time on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: learning to look after their body and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”
Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you are invested, all the rest fades.”
Benefits of Being Outside the US System
Coming from outside 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 wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.
Foreign Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did 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 the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he held the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”
Despite spending most of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a group and united, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return
