These Players and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
Although the United States is a nation of immigrants, the NFL is still dominated by US-born athletes. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by attending college in the United States. True outsiders are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which renders James Cook’s journey exceptional.
James Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL
Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he was raised in England, is in his twenties, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback from Europe. He got as far as representing Great Britain, but his plans to attend college in the US were too expensive.
“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys wanted me, I would switch my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often get me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Panthers and Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora. When Durde joined the coaching team at the Falcons, becoming the first British permanent coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he recalls. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the Saints. I traveled to Australia to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to Durde before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting younger players, maximising time on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My experience was guiding international athletes who had not played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to build structure and schedules: learning to look after their health and handle a massive game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who never compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s more of a perceived hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘garbage can’ not ‘rubbish bin’. But we feel anxious or stressed about the similar things and need support in the identical ways. If players know you can help them, they don’t care where you’re from or what accent. And when people realize that you are invested, all the rest fades.”
Benefits of Coming From Beyond the NFL Bubble
Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have people from various origins, a variety of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so embrace it.’ It’s something to celebrate.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Australia who claimed the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the elite level.
Foreign Athletes and Their Paths
International athletes have usually been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped playing up front for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby union in England to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a special teams player and did not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering American football at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was obviously not built for his favoured sports, football and handball, so started the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while representing clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a place on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he had his hands on the championship trophy as a part of the LA 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 every locker room but is hasn’t had action on the field. Is being a international player still a challenge?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really inclusive environment, a great squad, a great franchise.”
Although spending the majority of training with his other offensive linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from every position group. My close friend, Landen Akers – my best man, in fact – was a 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 got to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Pircher is aware he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “I would say all the countries beyond the United States. The better each one of us performs, the greater number of young people who play football in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids hitting me up, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida each year to coach the new group of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us come back
