Coaching lineages are a staple of NFL culture, and Aden Durde is quietly establishing his own branch of that family tree as the British face of the sport’s expanding global footprint. One of his most notable protégés is former quarterback‑turned‑coach George Reynolds.
The last time I caught up with Reynolds was back in 2020. At that point he was the inaugural starting quarterback for the pioneering NFL Academy and one of a select ten athletes who had just taken part in the NFL Pro Bowl skills challenges in Orlando, competing head‑to‑head with American high‑school players. After that experience, Reynolds headed north to the University of Ottawa in Canada, where he continued to hone his football knowledge. Rather than chasing a playing career, he soon pivoted toward coaching, splitting his time between duties at the Academy, involvement with the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, and a stint with the Baltimore Ravens during the most recent offseason.
"I always knew coaching was something I wanted to do," Reynolds told Sky Sports. "Coming from an international background, the path to the United States felt like a massive barrier. I want to tear down that barrier for the guys who follow me because I’ve lived through the whole process. If I can give someone a better chance than I had, that’s a win for me.
That’s really what pulled me into coaching, and the more time I spend at the Academy the more I grow as a mentor. I feel inspired to take the next step and prove I belong at the highest level." Durde, who made history as the first British coordinator to win a Super Bowl in February, has long spoken about creating a domino effect from his unlikely journey. He believes more coaches with similar backgrounds will soon emerge, and Reynolds appears to be one of those trailblazers. "I try to emulate what Aden has done in my own career," Reynolds said of his mentor.
"He was relentless. Whether it was an internship or a coaching role, he seized every opportunity, learned, grew, and moved on to the next challenge. He was ruthless in the sense that he knew his worth and went after the positions he deserved. That’s exactly where I want to be.
He’s been an incredible mentor, and we still keep in touch. He’s given me concrete advice on the steps I need to take, the materials I should prepare, and how to position myself for a coaching role at the next level." Reynolds’ transition into coaching began after his return from Canada when he reached out to former Kent Exiles teammate James Cook, now Senior Director of Player Development for the Cleveland Browns.
Cook helped arrange a role for Reynolds at an IPP combine in London. "That was an opening I couldn’t ignore," Reynolds recalled. "I showed up at 6 a.m., was the first at the table, and stayed until 11 p.m.
doing whatever was needed. I wanted to prove my value and make sure the staff knew I was ready to work hard." That dedication paid off.
Reynolds later served as an assistant tight‑ends coach for the IPP program—an initiative originally conceived by Durde—before landing his current position as the wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the NFL Academy based in Loughborough. "I worked with Steve Hagan, who is now the Academy’s head coach," Reynolds explained. "We coached Patrick Murtagh, who suffered an injury after signing with the Lions but still managed to reach the NFL a year later.
When Coach Hagan moved back to Europe to lead the Academy, he immediately offered me a spot on his staff." Reynolds was part of the Academy’s inaugural class when the program launched in 2019. The Academy was created to give international athletes a clear pathway to U.S.
college scholarships and, ultimately, professional opportunities. Since its inception, more than 40 students have earned college football scholarships, and 28 alumni are playing Division I football in the 2025‑2026 season.
The current roster boasts athletes from 20 different nationalities, many of whom are learning the sport from scratch or have arrived in the UK for the first time to pursue football. Coaching such a diverse group demands a unique communication style.
"You have to learn to speak a different language to a kid who’s been playing football for a decade versus someone who’s never set foot on a gridiron," Reynolds said. "If I can break down the fundamentals for a Nigerian youngster who’s never seen a football or an Australian who comes from a rugby background, it actually makes coaching more straightforward later on because the fundamentals are solid." Reynolds also broadened his résumé during the last offseason with the Baltimore Ravens, where he worked under tight‑ends coach George Godsey and offensive assistant Danny Breyer (now the Browns’ passing‑game coordinator). "That was one of the most valuable experiences of my career," he noted. "Being around NFL players, seeing how they teach the game, and building relationships with the coaching staff has been priceless.
I still keep in touch with many of those coaches. It gave me a clear benchmark of the level I need to reach to coach in the NFL and provided a stepping stone. If my name becomes known within those circles, it opens doors for the next move." "I love coaching at the Academy and could see myself staying there indefinitely if the circumstances were right," Reynolds said. "But as I develop, I want to test myself at a college or NFL level and help teams win.
If that means drafting plays for a pro playbook in my first year, I’m ready to do it. I just need to be around the right staff that will allow me to keep growing." Reynolds’ time with Baltimore came as a Bill Walsh internship—a pathway similar to the one Durde followed when he landed his first NFL role with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 after interning with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15.
Durde later became the Dallas defensive‑line coach, then the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator under Mike Macdonald in 2024, where he helped craft one of the league’s most feared defenses and earned a Super Bowl ring. His success has led to head‑coach interview opportunities this offseason. "It’s not surprising that Durde has risen so far," Reynolds observed.
"What people often overlook is the sheer amount of hard work he’s put in to get there. He’s been a tireless advocate for international football, traveling, coaching, and building relationships everywhere. That’s the blueprint for my own path.
You have to demonstrate value, show you’re willing to work hard, and convince an organization that you’ll bring the right motivation and effort." Durde’s story proves that deep football knowledge and strategic acumen can be cultivated outside the United States. Reynolds stands among the brightest of the next generation, eager to leave his imprint on an increasingly global game.