The Players and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
While the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still dominated by American-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by going to university in the US. Genuine international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.
Cook’s Surprising Path to the League
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
This is where he met Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was working with international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to take care of their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Does being an Englishman who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest fades.”
Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System
Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the elite level.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
International athletes have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not educated 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 the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and handball, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe and Germany, 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 Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. 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 isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a great team, a great franchise.”
Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a group and united, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is aware he represents not only his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of young people who participate in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ 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 IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida each year to train the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back
