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Although the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the game by going to university in the US. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Surprising 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 incredible given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating locally and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained 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.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to take care of their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when people know that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

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 offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

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

Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a great squad, a great organization.”

Despite devoting most of practice with his fellow 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 united, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents not only Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation beyond the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to train the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back