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While the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by American-born players. Only 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by attending university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to college in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would switch 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 appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the head 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 sport. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: how to take care of their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed 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 how you speak. And when players realize that you care, all the other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various origins, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- 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 Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at university, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his preferred games, football and handball, so took up American football in his late teens. He stood out while playing for clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked 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,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a great squad, a great organization.”

Despite spending the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US each year to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back