Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is still led by US-born players. Only 5% of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the game by going to college in the US. Genuine international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Journey 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 incredible given he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating in his area and quickly wanted to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his plans to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Down Under to work with younger players from across the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a really active position, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their body and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and need 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 know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”
Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble
Coming from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.
International Athletes and Their Paths
International athletes have typically been specialists, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming 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 Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started American football in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a great team, a great organization.”
Despite spending most of practice with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played receiver at the LA. The long snapper 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 there for each other.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return
