The Players and Coaches Not Born in the United States
While the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is still led by US-born players. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the sport by attending university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his plans to go to college in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. 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 often buy me lunch.”
It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: how to look after their body and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”
Does being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when players realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”
Advantages of Being Outside the US System
Coming from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke 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 make those connections and form friendships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who won the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not suited for his preferred games, football and handball, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a excellent squad, a top franchise.”
Although devoting the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive 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 receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the more young people who play football in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to coach the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return