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While the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is still led by US-born athletes. Just 5% of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, 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 began participating locally and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his dreams to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL annals, 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; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very active role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when players realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Being Outside the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a variety of experiences. Our saying 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. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who won the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not built for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so started American football in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a excellent team, a top franchise.”

Although devoting most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation outside the United States. The better each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return