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Although the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by American-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the sport by going to university in the United States. Genuine international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his dreams to go to university in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing 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 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 Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as 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 really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and schedules: learning to look after their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the same 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 other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System

Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while representing clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a excellent team, a great organization.”

Despite devoting most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The better each one of us does, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US each year to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back