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Although the United States is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them enter the game by attending college in the US. True international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up 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 encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train younger players from across the Pacific to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very active role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to look after their body and handle a massive game plan. 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 Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Being Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned 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 the sport at university, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He stood out while representing clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given 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, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a international player 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 inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a excellent team, a great organization.”

Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The better each one of us performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are welcomed to the US annually to coach the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back