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While the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is still led by US-born athletes. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by attending college in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would switch my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their health and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and require support in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range 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 better at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did 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 academy before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so took up American football in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming environment, a great team, a great franchise.”

Despite spending the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – played 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. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back