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While the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by American-born athletes. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them step into the game by going to university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. 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 throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train younger players from across the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: how to take care of their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and need support in the same 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 rest fades.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond 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 offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently 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 usually been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

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

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see game time on the field. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive culture, a great team, a great franchise.”

Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation beyond the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

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