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While the United States is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by American-born players. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager 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 quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his plans to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to establish habits and schedules: how to look after their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined barrier 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 checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”

Advantages of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “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 build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who won the championship recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Players and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been specialists, recruited from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started American football in his teenage years. He impressed 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 held the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive culture, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”

Despite spending most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The more successful each one of us performs, the greater number of young people who participate in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to train the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back