The Players and Coaches Not Born in the United States
Although the US is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by American-born players. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by attending university in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust 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 show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
It was here that he met 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 Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and schedules: how to look after their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Does being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments 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 under pressure about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when players know that you care, all the rest fades.”
Advantages of Being Beyond the US System
Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the very top.
International Players and Their Journeys
International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not built for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as 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. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very inclusive environment, a excellent team, a top organization.”
Despite spending the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return
