While the US is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still led by American-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by attending college in the US. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.
For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”
It was here that he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”
Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: how to take care of their health and handle a massive playbook. 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 hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and require support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when people realize that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”
Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.
International athletes have typically been kickers, 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 kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.
A year later, he held the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a great team, a top organization.”
Although devoting the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a group and united, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be supportive.”
Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida each year to train the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back
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