These Athletes and Coaches Born Outside in the USA
While the US is a nation of immigrants, the National Football League is largely dominated by American-born athletes. Just five percent of participants are born abroad, and most of them step into the sport by going to university in the US. Genuine international figures are unusual, and coaches from abroad are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s journey remarkable.
Cook’s Surprising Path to the League
Cook has been in control of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. This is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s extraordinary given he grew up in England, is in his twenties, and never played professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while channel-flicking with his dad and stumbled upon what he called a “strange and amazing” sport. He started playing in his area and soon aspired to become the first-ever NFL QB from Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his dreams to go to university in the US proved too expensive.
“I scooped popcorn, wiping seats, flipping burgers, doing a bit of everything. Any time the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my shifts and help out. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d appear all over London and toss the ball to them. I wasn’t paid, but they’d usually buy me lunch.”
It was here that he met Aden Durde, who had periods with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the IPP programme in that year with two-time Super Bowl winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the coaching team at the Atlanta Falcons, making history as the first British full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who got drafted by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from the Emerald Isle who’s now with the Saints. I went to Australia to work with younger players from around the Pacific region to get them into college football, like what I wanted to do.”
Making the Leap to Coaching in the NFL
Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from working with international athletes to coaching in the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position supporting rookies, optimizing time on the training ground, working closely with medical staff, the coach and GM. It’s a very hands-on position, which is ideal for me. My background was working with players from abroad who had not played the sport. First-year rookies also have to build habits and routines: how to look after their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I enjoy that.”
Is being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL a disadvantage? “It’s largely a imagined hurdle than an real one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of reverse Ted Lasso comments and loads of players refer to me as ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about checking myself. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or stressed about the similar things and need support in the identical ways. If players understand you can help them, they aren’t concerned where you’re from or what accent. And when people know that you are invested, all the rest fades.”
Advantages of Being Beyond the US System
Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You make those connections and form friendships. People are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are varied than many think. We have people from various backgrounds, a range of upbringings. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Stand out – you are different so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been more successful at producing foreign fans than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player from Sydney who won the championship earlier this year with the Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have risen to the elite level.
Foreign Players and Their Paths
Foreign players have typically been specialists, brought in from different sports. Howfield swapped soccer for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and Jets; Luckhurst graduated from rugby in St Albans to the Atlanta Falcons team. If you aren’t aiming to be a kicker and did not educated in the US college system, it’s very challenging to advance to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who played for Chelsea’s youth team before discovering American football at university, has made that step. He competed in the CFL for the Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Steelers.
Maximilian Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not built for his favoured sports, football and the sport, so started the NFL in his late teens. He impressed while representing clubs in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was offered a spot on the IPP in that year.
A year later, he held the championship trophy as a member of the LA Rams training team. Pircher subsequently had spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a international player still a hurdle?
“It’s not really difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it doesn’t really matter. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, once we have that figured out, we’re all friends. The Vikings have a very welcoming environment, a excellent squad, a great franchise.”
Despite spending most of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his teams. “Obviously the offensive line is consistently very tight because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have friends from every position group. My best friend, Landen Akers – my wedding witness, in fact – played wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Green Bay, Matt Orzech, is a really good friend: we lived together for two years at the LA Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be there for each other.”
Motivating the Next Generation
Pircher is conscious he represents more than just Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation outside the US. The more successful every IPP graduate does, the greater number of young people who participate in Italy, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘Oh it is possible – if I dedicate myself every day, I can get somewhere.’ I have a many kids contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve experienced.”
The program alumni are all invited to the US each year to coach the next wave of potential NFL outsiders. “Almost all of us return
