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While the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the sport by going to college in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had never played the game. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to look after their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the same things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, 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 genuinely curious. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. 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 academy before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive culture, a great squad, a top franchise.”

Despite spending the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously 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, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The more successful each one of us performs, the more young people who participate in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US each year to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back