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Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born players. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League

Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first 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, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would switch my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to establish structure and schedules: how to take care of their health and handle a massive game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the same things and need support in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when people know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our 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 people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Players and Their Paths

International athletes have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not built for his favoured sports, football and handball, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a great team, a great franchise.”

Although spending the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – was a wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are welcomed to Florida each year to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back