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While the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them enter the game by attending university in the US. Genuine international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and did not played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: how to look after their health and handle a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when people realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the US System

Coming 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 build those bonds and build relationships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a variety of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who won the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

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

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very welcoming culture, a great team, a top organization.”

Although devoting most of training with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return