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While the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get 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 IPP programme in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had never played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish structure and schedules: learning to look after their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same everywhere. 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 get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed 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 make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have people from various origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who won the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Journeys

Foreign players have usually been specialists, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He stood out while representing clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

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

Despite spending most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a unit and united, 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 specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The better each one of us performs, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back