These Players and Trainers Not Born in the USA
While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by American-born players. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the United States. Genuine international figures 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 charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around 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 Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and routines: how to take care of their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like 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 require support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”
Benefits of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble
Coming from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who won the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.
International Athletes and Their Journeys
Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started American football in his teenage years. He impressed while playing for teams in Austria and Germany, 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 Rams practice squad. 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 every locker room but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?
“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a great team, a great franchise.”
Although spending the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and united, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of young people who participate in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return
