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While the US is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by US-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending college in the United States. Genuine international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in England, 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 in his area and quickly wanted to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to establish structure and schedules: how to take care of their health and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Outside the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see action on the field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a top franchise.”

Despite spending most of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he represents not only his home countries. “I would say every nation beyond the United States. The better each one of us does, the more youth who participate in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return