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While the US is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is still dominated by US-born players. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the game by going to university in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

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 Surrey, is in his twenties, and never participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his dreams to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. Being 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 throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing time on the training ground, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience 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 health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when players know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – 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 foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at university, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not built for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so started American football in his teenage years. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a great team, a top organization.”

Despite spending the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back