These Players and Coaches Born Outside in the United States
Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is still led by American-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the United States. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League
Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my shifts 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 throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”
This is where he met Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had never played the game. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: learning to look after their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”
Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”
Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System
Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke 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 make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive culture, a great team, a great organization.”
Despite spending most of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who participate in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return
