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Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born players. Only five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. 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 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 established the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, like 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. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very active role, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had not played the game. First-year newcomers also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and need 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 players know that you are invested, 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 whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. People are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

International Players and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so started the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Europe, 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 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 joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a great team, a top organization.”

Although devoting the majority of training 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 united, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries beyond the US. The better each one of us performs, the more youth who participate in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are welcomed to Florida each year to coach the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back