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While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still led by US-born players. Only 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by going to college in the United States. True outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired 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 proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and throw 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 Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had never played the game. First-year newcomers also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require help in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when people know that you are invested, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “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 build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range 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 one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want 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 Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started American football in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner 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. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a great team, a top organization.”

Despite spending the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is always very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida each year to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return