These Players and Trainers Not Born in the United States
While the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is largely led by American-born players. Only five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by going to college in the United States. Genuine international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League
For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”
It was here that he met Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a really active position, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had never played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to establish structure and schedules: how to take care of their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”
Does being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”
Benefits of Coming From Beyond the US System
Originating from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have people from various origins, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year 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. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the 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 yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being 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 doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming culture, a great team, a great organization.”
Despite spending the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit 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 – played wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he represents not only his home countries. “I would say every nation beyond the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US each year to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return
