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While the US is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born players. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by attending university in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from across the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very active position, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to establish structure and schedules: how to take care of their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people realize that you are invested, 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 linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – 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 global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as 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 ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive culture, a excellent team, a great organization.”

Although spending the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return