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While the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is largely led by American-born players. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the game by going to university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and schedules: how to look after their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when players realize that you are invested, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, 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 foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who won the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

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

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not suited 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 Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a great team, a top franchise.”

Despite devoting most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always very tight because we are a group and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back