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While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth 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 never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to college in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch 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 appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get 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 playing days before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to establish structure and routines: how to take care of their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need help in the identical ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. 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 upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.

International Players and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a great team, a great organization.”

Despite spending most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a group and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The more successful each one of us performs, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return