These Players and Trainers Born Outside in the USA
While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by US-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by going to university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.
James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, 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 wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. 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 buy me lunch.”
It was here that he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi 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 enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to NFL Coaching
Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very active position, which is perfect for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: learning to look after their body and handle a huge playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when people realize that you care, all the rest fades.”
Benefits of Being Outside the US System
Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.
International Players and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield exchanged soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.
A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as a international player still a challenge?
“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”
Although spending most of training with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The better each one of us performs, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to the US annually to coach the next wave of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back
