While the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by American-born players. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.
James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL
Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
This is where he met Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing time on the training ground, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a very active role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish structure and schedules: how to take care of their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when people realize that you care, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System
Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Journeys
International athletes have usually been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, 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 given a place on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, 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 Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a great squad, a top franchise.”
Despite spending the majority of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only his home countries. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to train the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return
