The Players and Trainers Born Outside in the United States
While the United States is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by US-born players. Only 5% of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by attending college in the US. True outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.
James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League
Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust 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 throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to build structure and routines: learning to look after their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”
Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when people realize that you care, all the rest fades.”
Benefits of Coming From Beyond the US System
Coming from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from various origins, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the very top.
International Athletes and Their Paths
International athletes have usually been specialists, brought in from different sports. Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England 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 extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really welcoming culture, a great team, a great organization.”
Despite spending the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The better every IPP graduate does, the more young people who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back
