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While the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is largely led by American-born athletes. Only 5% of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the game by going to college in the US. True outsiders are rare, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating in his area and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his plans to attend university in the US proved too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he met Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL history, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, maximising time on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: how to look after their body and deal with a massive playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when people realize that you care, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”

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

International Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and were not trained in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started American football in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the late summer. He has been popular in every locker room but is yet to see game time on the field. Is his status as a international player still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very inclusive culture, a excellent squad, a top franchise.”

Although spending most of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a group and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

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 youth who play football in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to experience what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US annually to train the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back