These Players and Coaches Not Born in the USA
While the United States is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still led by American-born players. Only five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them step into the game by going to university in the US. True international figures are unusual, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.
Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL
Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s extraordinary considering he was raised in England, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first NFL quarterback from Europe. He progressed to playing for Great Britain, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my schedule and assist. Being a quarterback, the key skill I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d often buy me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his playing days before he set up 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 history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting guys,” he recalls. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the kicker from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Australia to train younger players from across 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 his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with foreign players to joining the NFL. “Cleveland contacted me unexpectedly,” he explains. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, optimizing time on the practice field, collaborating with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had not played the game. First-year rookies also have to establish structure and routines: how to look after their body and deal with a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”
Is being an Brit 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 reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players refer to me as ‘bruv’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘garbage can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need help in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or how you speak. And when people realize that you care, all the other stuff fades.”
Advantages of Coming From Outside the US System
Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the whole squad very early on, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk rugby with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are truly intrigued. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have staff from various backgrounds, a variety of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been more successful at attracting foreign fans than developing foreign players. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the elite level.
Foreign Athletes and Their Journeys
International athletes have usually been specialists, brought in from other football codes. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Broncos and New York Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and were not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.
Oyelola, a native of London who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at Nottingham University, has made that step. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, football and handball, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the national side, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.
The following year, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the LA Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have periods on the periphery at the Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Vikings at the late summer. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not an obstacle,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You got an accent – where are you from?’ But, after we have that figured out, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a really welcoming culture, a excellent team, a great organization.”
Although devoting most of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his teams. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my best man, in fact – was a wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view all the countries beyond the United States. The more successful each one of us does, the greater number of youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters hitting me up, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to pursue what I’ve experienced.”
The IPP graduates are welcomed to Florida annually to coach the next wave of aspiring NFL internationals. “Virtually everyone of us return