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While the US is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still dominated by US-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by attending university in the US. True outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and never played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He started playing locally and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to attend college in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first UK 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 says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from across the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very active role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and routines: learning to take care of their body and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System

Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad 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. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Journeys

Foreign players have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

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 late teens. He impressed while playing for teams in Austria and Europe, 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 part of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” 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, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive culture, a great team, a great organization.”

Although devoting the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “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 receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return