The Players and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by American-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by attending university in the US. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.
Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL
Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend university in the US proved too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would switch my schedule 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 often buy me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta 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; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to work with younger players from around the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising time on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build structure and schedules: learning to take care of their body and handle a massive playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”
Is being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”
Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System
Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.
International Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for being a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a great team, a great franchise.”
Despite devoting the majority of training with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return
