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Although the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely dominated by US-born athletes. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the United States. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his plans to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. 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 encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to look after their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and need help in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from various origins, a range of upbringings. 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 producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not built for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so took up American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a international player still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”

Although spending most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – played receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of young people who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida each year to coach the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back