These Players and Trainers Not Born in the United States

Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is largely dominated by American-born players. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by attending college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his dreams to go to college in the US were too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting 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 background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to look after their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who did not play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when players know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

International Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have usually been specialists, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He stood out while playing for clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see action on the field. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very inclusive environment, a great squad, a top organization.”

Although spending the majority of training with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “I would say every nation outside the US. The better every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, 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 inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

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