These Players and Coaches Born Outside in the USA

While the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is largely dominated by US-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending college in the US. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust 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 around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and schedules: learning to take care of their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

International Players and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been specialists, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at university, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not built for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the Detroit 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 field. Is his status as 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 got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming culture, a great team, a great organization.”

Although devoting the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back