These Athletes and Coaches Not Born in the United States
Although the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is still dominated by American-born players. Only five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the United States. True international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.
Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating locally and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US were financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a very active role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and schedules: how to look after their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”
Does being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when people realize that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble
Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than developing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
International Players and Their Paths
International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained 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 Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not built for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see action 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 all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a excellent squad, a top organization.”
Despite devoting the majority of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “In my view every nation outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the more young people who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back
