These Players and Trainers Not Born in the United States
While the United States is a country of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by American-born athletes. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by attending university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story remarkable.
Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League
Cook has been in charge 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 twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US proved too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
This is where he encountered 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 championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to train younger players from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very active position, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to look after 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 play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when people realize that you are invested, all the rest fades.”
Advantages of Coming From Outside 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 walked out, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
International Players and Their Journeys
International athletes have typically been specialists, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London 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 Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so started American football in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a great team, a great franchise.”
Despite devoting most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The more successful each one of us performs, the greater number of young people who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back