These Players and Trainers Born Outside in the USA
While the US is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is largely led by American-born athletes. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by attending university in the United States. True outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.
James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL
Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. 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 dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon aspired to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to attend university in the US were financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever 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 trained with players, I’d appear around London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, making history as the first-ever UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable guys,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was working with international athletes who had not played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and routines: learning to look after their body and handle a massive playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who never play in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a imagined hurdle than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and require support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you are invested, all the other stuff melts away.”
Advantages of Being Beyond the US System
Originating from outside the American football world has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. People 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: ‘Stand out – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the elite level.
Foreign Players and Their Journeys
International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before finding American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not built for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had 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 hasn’t had game time on the field. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive culture, a excellent team, a great franchise.”
Although devoting the majority of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is aware he represents not only his home countries. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of young people who play football in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida each year to coach the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return