These Athletes and Coaches Not Born in the USA
While 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 the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League
Cook has been in charge 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 twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to attend college in the US were financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
It was here that he met Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the 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 says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had never played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: how to take care of their body and handle a huge playbook. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Brit who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”
Benefits of Being Beyond the US System
Originating from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
International Athletes and Their Journeys
International athletes have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming 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 native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, football and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes 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, once we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a great team, a top organization.”
Although spending the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he represents not only his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return
