These Athletes and Coaches Born Outside in the USA

Although the United States is a nation of newcomers, the NFL is still led by American-born players. Just five percent of players are born abroad, and most of them enter the sport by going to college in the United States. True international figures are rare, and foreign coaches are especially scarce, which renders James Cook’s story remarkable.

James Cook’s Surprising Journey to the League

Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. This is an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not participated in pro sports. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his father and came across what he described as a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He progressed to representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to college in the US proved too expensive.

“I scooped popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL people wanted me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As 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.”

It was here that he met Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he set up the International Player Pathway program in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde joined the staff at the Falcons, making history as the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook took over the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable 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 Down Under to work with aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I had hoped to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from working with international athletes to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting younger players, maximising efficiency on the training ground, collaborating with medical staff, the coach and general manager. It’s a really active position, which is ideal for me. My background was working with international athletes who had not played the sport. First-year newcomers also have to build habits and routines: how to look after their health and handle a massive game plan. But also just being present for players. That’s the identical everywhere. And I love that.”

Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s more of a imagined barrier than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the similar things and require help in the same ways. If players know 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.”

Benefits of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team very early on, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are genuinely curious. NFL buildings are varied than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at attracting foreign fans than developing global talent. Mailata, a ex- rugby player from Australia who won the championship earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have risen to the very top.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

International athletes have typically been kickers, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for becoming a placekicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby union in England to the Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the American system, it’s extremely difficult to advance to the NFL.

Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s youth team before finding American football at university, has made that step. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Maximilian Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and handball, so started the NFL in his late teens. He stood out while representing clubs in Austria and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a place on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he had his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the fringes 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 his status as a foreigner still a challenge?

“It’s not really difficult, not an obstacle,” says the player. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – what’s your background?’ But, once we clarify that, we’re all friends. The Minnesota have a really inclusive culture, a excellent team, a top organization.”

Despite spending most of practice with his fellow offensive linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the team dynamics at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and united, but we have friends from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my wedding witness, actually – played wide receiver at the LA. The long snapper from the Packers, Matt Orzech, is a close pal: we lived together for two years at the Rams. Quarterbacks, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is conscious he represents not only his home countries. “I would say all the countries outside the United States. The better each one of us does, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Germany, wherever, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I put the work in every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many youngsters contacting me, asking for tips. It’s rewarding to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are welcomed to Florida annually to train the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return