The Athletes and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
Although the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still led by US-born players. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to university in the United States. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not played professional sport. Cook discovered 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 in his area and quickly aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to university in the US proved too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing 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 didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”
It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to establish habits and schedules: how to look after their health and handle a massive playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”
Advantages of Being Beyond the US System
Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various origins, a variety of upbringings. 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 more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Journeys
International athletes have typically been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.
A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a great squad, a top franchise.”
Although devoting most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – played 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, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries beyond the US. The better each one of us performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida each year to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return
