While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely dominated by US-born athletes. Only 5% of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the US. Genuine international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.
Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend university in the US were financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had never played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and routines: how to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious 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 what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”
Benefits of Coming From Beyond the US System
Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby 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 people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
Foreign players have usually been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a great organization.”
Although devoting the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and united, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The more successful each one of us performs, the more young people who participate in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, 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 IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return
