The Players and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
Although the United States is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by US-born players. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the game by attending university in the United States. True outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.
James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League
For the past six months, Cook has been in charge of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. 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” game. He started playing locally and quickly aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first British full-time coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to train aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build structure and schedules: how to look after their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I enjoy that.”
Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when people know that you care, all the rest melts away.”
Advantages of Coming From Beyond the US System
Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.
Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys
International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot 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 Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is hasn’t had action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a great squad, a top franchise.”
Despite devoting most of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is conscious he represents not only his home countries. “I would say every nation beyond the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return
