The Athletes and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
Although the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born players. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by going to college in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.
Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend college in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing 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 throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”
This is where he met Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over 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; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to train younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to take care of their body and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the same 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 care, all the rest melts away.”
Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System
Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the elite level.
Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at university, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and handball, so started the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive culture, a excellent squad, a top franchise.”
Despite devoting most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the US. The better each one of us does, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida annually to train the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back
