The Athletes and Trainers Not Born in the United States
While the United States is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by going to university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.
James Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL
Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. 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 met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from around the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Similar to 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 supporting rookies, optimizing time on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: how to take care of their body and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”
Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System
Coming from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who won the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.
International Athletes and Their Journeys
International athletes have typically been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, football and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.
A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a great team, a great franchise.”
Despite spending most of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The better each one of us performs, the more youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return
