These Players and Trainers Not Born in the USA
Although the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by American-born athletes. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by attending college in the United States. True outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.
James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL
Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating in his area and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had never played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and routines: how to look after their body and handle a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the rest melts away.”
Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble
Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various origins, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.
Foreign Players and Their Journeys
International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He stood out while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a great squad, a top organization.”
Although devoting the majority of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – was a wide receiver at the Rams. 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, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view every nation outside the US. The better every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return
