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While the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending college in the United States. True international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his plans to attend university in the US were too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. First-year newcomers also have to establish structure and routines: how to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”

Benefits of Coming From Outside the US System

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL organizations are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

International Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s story is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see action on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really 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 got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent team, a top franchise.”

Although spending the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the more youth who play football in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us come back