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While the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the game by going to college in the US. True outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old 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 aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very active role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to establish structure and schedules: learning to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when people realize that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player 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 played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering American football at university, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while representing clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have 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 well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really 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 got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”

Although devoting the majority of training 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 best friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The more successful each one of us does, the more young people who participate in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return