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Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to university in the United States. Genuine international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and did not played 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 “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from around the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: learning to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England 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 extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not built for his preferred games, football and handball, so took up American football 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 championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and 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 field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive culture, a excellent squad, a great organization.”

Despite spending the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back