These Players and Trainers Born Outside in the USA
While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by American-born players. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by going to university in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.
Cook’s Surprising Path to the League
Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not played professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around 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 stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. First-year rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”
Does being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the rest melts away.”
Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble
Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into 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 Australia who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.
International Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have typically been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Austria and Europe, 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 part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really welcoming culture, a excellent team, a top organization.”
Although devoting most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, 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 a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back
