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Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the sport by attending college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had not played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: how to look after their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when people realize that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Being Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety 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 more successful at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who won the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while playing for clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the field. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a great team, a great organization.”

Although spending the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view all the countries beyond the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of young people who play football in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are welcomed to the US annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return