These Players and Trainers Not Born in the United States
While the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is still led by US-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the game by going to university in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Surprising Path to the League
Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in 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 “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating locally and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule 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 throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from around the Pacific to get them into the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active role, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: how to look after their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”
Benefits of Being Beyond the US System
Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.
Foreign Athletes and Their Paths
Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a international player still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really welcoming environment, a great team, a top organization.”
Despite spending most of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are welcomed to Florida each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back
