These Players and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
While the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely dominated by US-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by going to university in the United States. True outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.
Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL
Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to university in the US were too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region 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 working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: how to take care of their body and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many 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 similar things and require support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when players realize that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”
Benefits of Being Outside the NFL Bubble
Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into 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 league player from Australia who won the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not built for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a excellent squad, a top organization.”
Although devoting most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation beyond the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who participate in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back
