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While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by US-born players. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and most of them step into the game by going to university in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given 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” game. He started playing in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to attend university in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, maximising time on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My background was working with international athletes who had never played the game. First-year newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: learning to look after their health and handle a massive playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and require help in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when players realize that you care, all the other stuff fades.”

Advantages of Being Outside the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who won the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Atlanta 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 youth team before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he held the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent team, a great franchise.”

Despite devoting most of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents not only Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation outside the United States. The better each one of us does, the more youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida annually to train the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back