These Players and Trainers Born Outside in the United States
Although the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is largely led by American-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the US. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the League
Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing in his area and quickly wanted to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were financially prohibitive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”
It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first UK full-time coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing time on the training ground, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”
Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and need support 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 realize that you are invested, all the rest fades.”
Advantages of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble
Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly intrigued. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.
International Athletes and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started American football in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see action on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?
“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 got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a great team, a great franchise.”
Although spending most of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only his home countries. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate does, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The program alumni are all invited to Florida annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back