The Players and Trainers Not Born in the United States
While the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is largely dominated by US-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by attending university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.
Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and never participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his plans to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, like 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. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very active role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had not played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to take care of their body and handle a massive playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when people realize that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”
Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble
Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the elite level.
International Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging 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 achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not built for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a foreigner 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 ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”
Although spending the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, 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 represents not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate does, the more young people who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida each year to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back
