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Although the US is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is still led by US-born players. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by attending college in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and did not played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and routines: learning to take care of their health and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and need support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Being Outside the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

Foreign Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap 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 Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle 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 his status as a international player still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent team, a top franchise.”

Despite spending most of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a group and united, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents not only his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return