These Players and Coaches Born Outside in the United States

Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the game by attending university in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and throw 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 Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. 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 had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish structure and routines: how to look after their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System

Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have typically been specialists, brought in from different sports. Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents 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 built for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up American football in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really welcoming environment, a excellent team, a top franchise.”

Although devoting the majority of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the more youth who participate in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back