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Although the US is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely dominated by US-born athletes. Just 5% of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them step into the sport by going to university in the US. True outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are especially rare, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy 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 IPP programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train younger players from around the Pacific to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to take care of their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I enjoy that.”

Is being an Englishman who never play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and require help in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when players realize that you are invested, all the other stuff 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 left, one of our linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have people from various backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at producing international supporters than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been kickers, recruited from different sports. Howfield exchanged playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At over two meters and 23 stone, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his preferred games, football and handball, so took up American football in his late teens. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

The following year, he held the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a great team, a top franchise.”

Although spending most of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt 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.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation outside the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to Florida each year to train the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return