The Athletes and Trainers Born Outside in the United States
Although the US is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by American-born players. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.
Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear 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 Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: learning to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the same things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”
Advantages of Coming From Beyond the US System
Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at university, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says 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 clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a excellent team, a great franchise.”
Despite spending most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – played receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is aware he represents not only his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who participate in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back
