These Athletes and Coaches Not Born in the USA
While the US is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is still led by American-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the United States. Genuine international figures are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.
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 achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend university in the US were too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”
This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, making history as 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 remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to get them into the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: learning to take care of their health and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and require help in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when players know that you care, all the other stuff fades.”
Benefits of Being Outside the US System
Originating from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have people from all sorts of origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the very top.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
International athletes have typically been specialists, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed 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 had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very welcoming environment, a excellent team, a top franchise.”
Despite devoting the majority of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The specialist from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Future
Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The program alumni are welcomed to the US annually to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return