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Although the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is still led by American-born players. Only 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by going to college in the United States. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely 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 incredible considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. 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 wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had 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; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to train younger players from across the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, optimizing time on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish structure and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System

Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing foreign players. 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 graduates to have made it to the very top.

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very inclusive environment, a great squad, a top organization.”

Although spending the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the more youth who participate in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

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