The Players and Trainers Not Born in the USA
While the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born players. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.
James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL
Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend college in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would switch my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
This is where he met Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to train younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to take care of their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”
Does being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require support 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 people know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Being Outside the NFL Bubble
Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have people 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 international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
International Players and Their Journeys
International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so started American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive culture, a great team, a top franchise.”
Despite devoting most of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is conscious he represents not only his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The more successful each one of us performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are welcomed to the US annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back