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While the US is a country of newcomers, the NFL is largely dominated by American-born players. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them enter the game by attending university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and never played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program 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 permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very active role, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build structure and schedules: how to take care of their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Englishman who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who won the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering 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 Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe 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 championship trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a great squad, a great organization.”

Despite devoting the majority of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – played receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The more successful each one of us performs, the more young people who participate in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return