These Players and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
While the United States is a country of immigrants, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born players. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by attending university in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.
Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL
Cook has been in control of player development at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never played pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his dad and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He began participating locally and quickly wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He progressed to playing for Team GB, but his plans to attend college in the US were too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they trained with players, I’d appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
It was here that he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first-ever British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific to get them into college football, similar to what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a hybrid role assisting rookies, maximising efficiency on the practice field, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really active role, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the game. Rookie rookies also have to build habits and schedules: learning to take care of their body and deal with a huge playbook. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”
Is being an Englishman who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the same things and require help in the identical ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Being Beyond the US System
Coming from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I spoke 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 build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL buildings are varied than many think. We have staff from various origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the championship recently with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP players to have risen to the elite level.
Foreign Athletes and Their Paths
International athletes have usually been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Bobby Howfield exchanged playing up front for Watford and Fulham for being a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in St Albans to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a kicker and did not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering American football at university, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s story is just as improbable. At over two meters and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while playing for teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher subsequently had periods on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Vikings at the end of August. He has been popular in each team but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is his status as a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a great squad, a great franchise.”
Although spending the majority of practice with his fellow linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the O-line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – was a receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Green Bay, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, special teams: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say every nation outside the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to encourage them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are welcomed to the US each year to train the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return
