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While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by attending college in the United States. Genuine international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising 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 incredible given he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired to become the first NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up 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 Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train younger players from around the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: how to look after their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when people know that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System

Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and the sport, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA 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 popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive environment, a great team, a great franchise.”

Despite spending most of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Naturally 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 – played receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US each year to train the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return