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Although the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the game by going to university in the US. Genuine international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement 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 surfing channels with his father and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would switch 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 appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising time on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to look after their health and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need help in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when people know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the US System

Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have typically been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member 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 being a international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very inclusive culture, a great team, a top organization.”

Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just his home countries. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The more successful each one of us 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 every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to train the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return