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While the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely dominated by US-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by attending college in the US. True outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my shifts 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 usually get me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, 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 attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a great team, a great organization.”

Although devoting most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice 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 internationals. “Almost all of us come back