The Athletes and Coaches Born Outside in the United States
While the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by attending university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League
Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to go to college in the US were financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: learning to take care of their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Brit who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the same 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 fades.”
Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble
Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
International athletes have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He stood out while representing teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”
Despite spending most of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back
