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While the US is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born players. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by attending university in the United States. True outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US were too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. Being 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 buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he set up the IPP program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a very active role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their health and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the same things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

International Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so took up 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 place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a excellent squad, a top franchise.”

Although devoting most of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a group 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 LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the US. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US each year to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back