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Although the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by American-born players. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the US. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: learning to look after their body and handle a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Being Outside the NFL Bubble

Originating 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 linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have usually been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated 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 very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while representing clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the 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 action on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive environment, a great squad, a great franchise.”

Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide 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, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he represents not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The better each one of us performs, the more youth who play football in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US each year to coach the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return