The Athletes and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is largely led by US-born players. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending university in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
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. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called 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 playing for Great Britain, but his plans to attend university in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and throw 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 playing days before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. First-year newcomers also have to build habits and routines: how to take care of their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System
Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started American football in his teenage years. He impressed while representing teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place 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 fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a great squad, a great franchise.”
Despite devoting the majority of training with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only his home countries. “In my view every nation outside the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – 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 pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back
