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While the US is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is largely dominated by US-born athletes. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by attending college in the US. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from across the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, optimizing time on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From 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 offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our saying 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 attracting foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at university, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not built for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined 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 being a international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a excellent team, a great franchise.”

Despite spending most of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the more youth who participate in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return