The Athletes and Trainers Born Outside in the United States
Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely dominated by US-born players. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by attending university in the United States. Genuine outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL
Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He began participating in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to college in the US were too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods 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 Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first British 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 says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with players from abroad who had never played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: how to look after their body and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who never play 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 jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need help in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble
Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
Foreign players have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not educated 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 American football at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria 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 Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent team, a great organization.”
Although spending the majority of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he represents not only Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries beyond the United States. The better each one of us performs, the more young people who participate in Italy, in Europe, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return
