The Players and Coaches Not Born in the USA

Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Only 5% of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to university in the US. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

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 England, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend college in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up 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 encountered Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and routines: learning to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when players know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”

Advantages of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have people from various origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been specialists, brought in from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a great squad, a top franchise.”

Although spending the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is always very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

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