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Although the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by American-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by going to university in the United States. True international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever 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 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 Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from across the Pacific region to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need help in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta 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 make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really inclusive culture, a excellent team, a great organization.”

Although spending the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the United States. The better each one of us does, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US each year to coach the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back