The Athletes and Trainers Born Outside in the United States

Although the US is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still led by American-born players. Only 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by attending university in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days 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 Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: how to look after their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra 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 nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.

Foreign Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really welcoming culture, a excellent team, a great franchise.”

Despite devoting the majority of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: 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 Future

Pircher is aware he represents not only his home countries. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who play football in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back