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While the US is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by US-born players. Only five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which makes 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 achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and did not played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever British full-time 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; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the game. First-year rookies also have to build structure and schedules: how to take care of their body and handle a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when players realize that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad 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. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, 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 foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have usually been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Howfield exchanged soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up American football in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see action on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a excellent team, a top franchise.”

Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and united, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only his home countries. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida each year to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return