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Although the US is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still led by US-born athletes. Only five percent of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the sport by attending university in the US. Genuine international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: learning to look after their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when people know that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have people from various origins, a variety 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 attracting foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. 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 played for Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a excellent team, a great franchise.”

Although devoting the majority of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he represents not only his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The better each one of us performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US each year to coach the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back