The Players and Trainers Born Outside in the United States

Although the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by US-born players. Only five percent of participants are born abroad, and the majority of them enter the game by attending university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and never participated in pro sports. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad 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 born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his plans to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

It was here that he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the IPP programme in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had never played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish habits and routines: learning to look after their body and handle a massive game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”

Does being an Brit who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the same things and need support in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they don’t care about your origin or how you speak. And when players realize that you are invested, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the US System

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I spoke in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen asked me about rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing international supporters than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

International Players and Their Journeys

Foreign players have typically been kickers, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged soccer for Watford and Fulham for being a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so started American football in his late teens. He stood out while playing for teams in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had spells on the fringes at the 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 gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” notes the player. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very inclusive culture, a great team, a top organization.”

Although spending the majority of training with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends 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 shared a home for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be there for each other.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he symbolizes more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries beyond the US. The better each one of us performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Europe, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are all invited to the US annually to train the new group of aspiring NFL internationals. “Almost all of us come back