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While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is largely led by US-born players. Only five percent of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by attending college in the US. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and never participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels 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 born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. 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 usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to take care of their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London 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 moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a great squad, a top franchise.”

Despite spending most of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the greater number of youth who participate in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ 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 welcomed to the US annually to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back