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While the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely dominated by US-born players. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by attending university in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: learning to take care of their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and need help in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the US System

Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have people from various origins, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up American football in his late teens. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he held the championship trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really welcoming culture, a great squad, a great franchise.”

Although devoting most of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents not only his home countries. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The better every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are welcomed to Florida each year to train the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return