🔗 Share this article

Although the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is still led by US-born players. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to college in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust 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 appear 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 stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: learning to look after their body and handle a huge playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have staff from various origins, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

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

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and handball, so started the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while playing for teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see action on the field. Is being a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a great squad, a top franchise.”

Despite spending the majority of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, 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.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return