These Athletes and Coaches Not Born in the United States
While the US is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by American-born athletes. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.
Cook’s Unlikely 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 incredible given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his dreams to attend college in the US were too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff 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, working with some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into college football, like what I had hoped to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to establish structure and routines: learning to take care of their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”
Is being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when players realize that you care, all the rest fades.”
Advantages of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble
Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.
International Athletes and Their Paths
Foreign players have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.
Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” 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 Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a great squad, a top franchise.”
Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the US. The better each one of us performs, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”
The program alumni are welcomed to Florida annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return