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Although the US is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them step into the sport by going to college in the US. True international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey exceptional.

Cook’s Unlikely Path to the League

For the past six months, Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” sport. He began participating in his area and quickly aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US proved financially prohibitive.

“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from across the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, similar to what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, optimizing time on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the head coach and general manager. It’s a really hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had never played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to establish structure and routines: learning to look after their body and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle 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 ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when players know that you care, all the rest fades.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the US System

Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.

International Players and Their Journeys

Foreign players have usually been specialists, brought in from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not trained in the American system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is just as unlikely. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was obviously not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

A year later, 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, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota 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 his status as a international player still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really welcoming environment, a great team, a top organization.”

Despite devoting most of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a group and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation outside the US. The better each one of us does, the more young people who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can realize: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in consistently, I can get somewhere.’ I have a lot of kids hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida each year to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back