🔗 Share this article

Although the US is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by US-born players. Only five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by going to university in the US. Genuine international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.

James Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He started playing in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his plans to attend college 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 adjust my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill 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 usually get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to take care of their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when players know that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby 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 staff from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at university, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really inclusive culture, a excellent team, a great franchise.”

Despite devoting the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only his home countries. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The better every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back