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Although the United States is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by American-born players. Just five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the game by going to college in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to go to college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would switch my schedule and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. 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 encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” 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 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 his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, optimizing time on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure 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 everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘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 assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players realize that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have people from various origins, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys

International athletes have typically been kickers, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who played for 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 Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He stood out while representing clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive environment, a excellent team, a top organization.”

Despite spending most of training with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only his home countries. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The better each one of us does, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to train the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return