These Athletes and Trainers Not Born in the United States

Although the US is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by American-born athletes. Just 5% of players are foreign-born, and most of them enter the sport by going to college in the US. True outsiders are rare, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL

Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he was raised in Surrey, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and quickly aspired to become the first NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US were financially prohibitive.

“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could pass. So when they trained with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up the International Player Pathway programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, coaching some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I went to Down Under to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into the US college system, similar to what I wanted to do.”

Making the Leap to NFL Coaching

Like Durde before him, Cook transitioned from training international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, optimizing time on the training ground, working closely with physios, the coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is ideal for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and routines: learning to take care of their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”

Does being an Brit who did not play in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a perceived barrier than an actual one,” says Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style comments and loads of players call me ‘mate’ as they love that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can help them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or what accent. And when players realize that you care, all the rest fades.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Coming from outside 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 offensive linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and form friendships. Teammates are genuinely intrigued. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at producing foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby league player from Australia who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.

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

Pircher’s story is just as unlikely. At 6ft 7in and heavyweight, the Italian was obviously not built for his preferred games, football and handball, so started American football in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Austria and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in 2021.

A year later, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA Rams training team. Pircher went on to have periods on the fringes 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 yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a challenge?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the player. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a great organization.”

Despite devoting the majority of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the team dynamics at his clubs. “Obviously the offensive line is always close-knit because we are a group and united, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Inspiring the Future

Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the US. The better every IPP graduate performs, the greater number of youth who participate in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”

The IPP graduates are welcomed to the US each year to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us return