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While the United States is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is still dominated by US-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the sport by going to college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US were financially prohibitive.

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

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, 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 foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to establish structure and routines: learning to look after their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have staff from various origins, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who claimed the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

International athletes have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so started 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 place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

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

Although devoting most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “In my view all the countries beyond the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

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