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Although the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Only 5% of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the sport by going to college in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta 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 recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the head 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 not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to take care of their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘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 similar things and need support in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than developing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

International Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated 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 extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London 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 Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not built for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He stood out while representing clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

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 periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a great squad, a great organization.”

Although devoting most of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played 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 LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return