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While the United States is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is largely dominated by US-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending college in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment 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 discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his plans to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from across the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising time on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had never played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: how to look after their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when people know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Being Outside the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

Foreign Players and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so took up American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive culture, a excellent team, a top franchise.”

Despite devoting the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is always very tight because we are a group and united, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return