The Players and Trainers Not Born in the USA

Although the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by US-born players. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by going to college in the US. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in England, 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 called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained 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 Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, 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 coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really active position, which is perfect for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to look after their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and need support in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

International Players and Their Journeys

International athletes have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as 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 ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a excellent team, a top franchise.”

Despite spending the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The better each one of us performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to the US each year to train the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return