These Players and Coaches Not Born in the USA

While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the sport by attending college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.

James Cook’s Surprising Path to the League

Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and came across 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 got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. 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 met Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific region to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde 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 multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build habits and schedules: how to look after their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need help in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various origins, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota 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 international player still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”

Although devoting the majority of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “In my view every nation outside the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back