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Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by US-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the sport by going to university in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He started playing locally and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active position, which is perfect for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and routines: how to look after their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, 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 build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our saying 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 international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the very top.

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and handball, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery 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 action on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a great organization.”

Although devoting the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view all the countries beyond the United States. The more successful each one of us performs, the more youth who participate in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida each year to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return