The Athletes and Coaches Not Born in the USA
Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born players. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by attending college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.
James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to college in the US proved too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. 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 often buy me lunch.”
It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”
Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System
Coming from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
International athletes have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.
Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and handball, so took up American football in his teenage years. He stood out while representing clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as a foreigner 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 – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming environment, a great squad, a top organization.”
Despite spending the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: 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 outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back
