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While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by American-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the game by going to college in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. 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 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely 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 not played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the US System

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college 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 competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started American football in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a great squad, a top organization.”

Despite devoting most of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he represents not only Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to coach the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return