🔗 Share this article

Although the United States is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born players. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My background was working with international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to look after their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar 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 players know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed 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 loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.

Foreign Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

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

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not built for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while representing teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a great squad, a great franchise.”

Despite spending most of training with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The better each one of us does, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are welcomed to Florida annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return