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While the US is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still led by US-born athletes. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by going to college in the United States. True international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.

James Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Great Britain, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

This is where he met Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway program 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 British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really active position, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to look after their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Players and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield exchanged soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not suited for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really welcoming culture, a excellent squad, a great organization.”

Although devoting the majority of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view every nation outside the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back