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While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still led by US-born players. Only 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending university in the United States. Genuine international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. 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 get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific to get them into the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to look after their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Being Outside the US System

Originating from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; 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 were not trained in the American 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 discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not suited for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “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 Minnesota have a very inclusive environment, a great squad, a top organization.”

Despite spending most of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he represents not only his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of young people who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are welcomed to Florida annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return