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Although the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born players. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and most of them step into the game by going to college in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.

James Cook’s Surprising 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 extraordinary considering he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not played pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating locally and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP program in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to work with younger players from across the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”

Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had never played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: learning to take care of their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than many think. We have people from various origins, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Australia who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have made it to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been specialists, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at university, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s story 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 American football in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams 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 LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes at the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see action on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really welcoming environment, a excellent team, a great franchise.”

Despite devoting the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the offensive line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – played receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the United States. The better each one of us performs, the more youth who participate in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US each year to train the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back