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Although the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by American-born players. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by going to university in the United States. Genuine international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. As 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 didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and routines: how to take care of their body and handle a massive playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when players realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the US System

Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive culture, a great team, a top franchise.”

Although spending the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the O-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 long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents not only his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in 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 the US each year to train the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back