These Players and Coaches Not Born in the United States
Although the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by going to college in the United States. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey remarkable.
Cook’s Surprising Journey to the NFL
For the past six months, Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while channel-flicking with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “weird and wonderful” game. He started playing locally and quickly wanted to become the first NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Great Britain, but his plans to attend college in the US were too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill 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 wasn’t paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British full-time 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 Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”
Transitioning to NFL Coaching
Like Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie newcomers also have to build structure and schedules: learning to take care of their health and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and require support in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you are invested, all the rest melts away.”
Benefits of Being Outside the NFL Bubble
Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he enjoys it. You make those connections and form friendships. Teammates are truly curious. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a variety of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than developing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from other football codes. Bobby Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you do not want to be a special teams player and did not trained in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s academy before finding the sport at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not suited for his preferred games, soccer and handball, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He impressed while representing clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a place on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really welcoming culture, a excellent squad, a top organization.”
Although devoting the majority of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My best friend, Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – was a receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for a while at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he symbolizes more than just his home countries. “I would say all the countries beyond the United States. The more successful every IPP graduate performs, the more young people who play football in Europe, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many youngsters hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The program alumni are welcomed to the US annually to train the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back
