The Players and Coaches Born Outside in the United States
While the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is largely led by US-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by attending college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.
Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League
For the past six months, 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 Surrey, is in his twenties, and never played professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating locally and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Great Britain, but his plans to go to college in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill 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 wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL annals, 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 Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the game. First-year newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: learning to look after their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”
Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar 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 people realize that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”
Advantages of Being Outside the NFL Bubble
Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the elite level.
Foreign Athletes and Their Paths
Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at university, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not built for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started American football in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really inclusive culture, a great squad, a great franchise.”
Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back
