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While the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is largely led by American-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to college in the United States. True outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development 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 did not participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend university in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. As 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 didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to look after their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System

Coming from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings 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 celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.

International Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

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

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs 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 part of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Lions, 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 action on the field. Is being a foreigner 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 speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming culture, a great team, a great franchise.”

Although spending most of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return