The Players and Coaches Not Born in the USA
While the US is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to university in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to go to college in the US were financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”
This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway program 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 UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train younger players from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. First-year rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin 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 beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from various origins, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.
International Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have typically been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while playing for teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he held the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a international player still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a great squad, a top franchise.”
Despite devoting the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the US. The more successful each one of us performs, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘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 nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back