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Although the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is still led by US-born players. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to college in the US. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US proved too expensive.

“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 help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in that year with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to establish structure and schedules: how to take care of their body and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and handball, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods 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 well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really inclusive culture, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”

Despite spending the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – played receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to the US each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back