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While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by US-born athletes. Only 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the sport by attending university in the US. Genuine international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

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 considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans 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 schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

This is where he met Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had never played the game. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: learning to look after their body and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when players know that you are invested, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Being Outside the US System

Coming from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from various origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

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

International Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while representing clubs in Europe and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a excellent team, a top franchise.”

Despite devoting most of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen 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, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US each year to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back