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Although the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by US-born players. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the game by going to college in the US. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating in his area and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to go to college in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would switch my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis 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 Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising time on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a very active position, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish structure and routines: how to take care of their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real 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 ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. 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.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering American football at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and the sport, so took up American football in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t 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 speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a great squad, a great franchise.”

Although spending most of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to coach the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return