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Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by attending college in the US. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed 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 show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie 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 region to introduce them to the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had never played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: how to look after their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being present for guys. 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 reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like 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 require support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the other stuff fades.”

Advantages of Being Outside the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have people from various origins, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Players and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”

Although devoting most of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the United States. The better each one of us does, the greater number of young people who participate in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘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 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 internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back