The Players and Coaches Born Outside in the United States
Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and most of them enter the sport by going to university in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.
James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL
Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme 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 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 recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to train younger players from across the Pacific to get them into the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had not played the game. First-year newcomers also have to establish structure and schedules: how to look after their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”
Does being an Englishman who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when people realize that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Being Outside the NFL Bubble
Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
International Players and Their Paths
International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh 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 American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a excellent team, a top organization.”
Although spending the majority of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US each year to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return
