The Players and Coaches Not Born in the USA
Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still dominated by US-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the game by attending university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League
For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. 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 usually buy me lunch.”
It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to train younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had not played the game. First-year rookies also have to build structure and schedules: learning to take care of their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. 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 real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support 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 fades.”
Advantages of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble
Coming from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have staff from various origins, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the elite level.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It’s not really 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 – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive culture, a great squad, a top organization.”
Despite devoting most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to the US each year to train the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return
