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While the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by American-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by going to university in the US. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and did not played professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing locally and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his plans to attend college in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of 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 Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to train younger players from across the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and schedules: how to take care of their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the from Italy 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 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 member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Detroit 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 hasn’t had game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a excellent squad, a great organization.”

Despite spending most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a group and united, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back