🔗 Share this article

Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is largely led by US-born players. Only 5% of participants are foreign-born, and most of them enter the game by going to college in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, optimizing time on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: how to look after their body and handle a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from various origins, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He stood out while playing for clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a excellent team, a top organization.”

Although spending most of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and united, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – played receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation beyond the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the more young people who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return