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Although the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by American-born players. Only 5% of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to college in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had not played the game. First-year newcomers also have to establish structure and routines: how to look after their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and require support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when people know that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Being Outside the US System

Coming from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who won the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”

Despite spending the majority of training with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back