The Athletes and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
Although the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still led by US-born players. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them enter the game by going to university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Path to the NFL
Cook has been in charge of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, like what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and routines: how to take care of their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Does being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the identical 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 are invested, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble
Coming from beyond 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 offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of origins, a variety of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.
International Athletes and Their Journeys
Foreign players have typically been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at university, has made that step. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not suited for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while playing for clubs 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 held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very inclusive environment, a great team, a top organization.”
Despite devoting most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is always very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for a while at the Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the US. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return
