These Players and Coaches Not Born in the USA

Although the US is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by attending college in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in Surrey, 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 stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He started playing in his area and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the same things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when people realize that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming 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 the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not built for his preferred games, football and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent team, a great organization.”

Despite spending the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the more youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back