The Players and Coaches Not Born in the USA

While the United States is a country of immigrants, the NFL is largely dominated by American-born players. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the game by going to university in the US. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL

Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and did not 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” game. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to representing Great Britain, but his dreams to attend university in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. 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.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to NFL Coaching

Like his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with foreign players to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really active role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding players from abroad who had not played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish habits and routines: learning to take care of their health and handle a huge playbook. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and many players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and require support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when players realize that you are invested, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Coming From Beyond the US System

Coming from outside the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into 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 championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the elite level.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been specialists, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not educated in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is equally unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not built for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while representing teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.

The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a excellent team, a great franchise.”

Despite spending most of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is consistently close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from all positions. My best friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, special teams: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Next Generation

Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries outside the United States. The more successful each one of us performs, the greater number of youth who play football in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US each year to coach the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back