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Although the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still led by American-born athletes. Only 5% of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the game by attending university in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend university in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to train younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Like his predecessor 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 assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to look after their health and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby 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 St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

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

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive culture, a great team, a top franchise.”

Although spending the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return