Aden Durde has become a household name in the NFL’s growing international narrative, carving out an unofficial coaching lineage that highlights the league’s expanding global footprint. One of the most prominent members of his emerging coaching family is George Reynolds, a former standout quarterback who has transitioned into a promising coaching career. The last time I spoke with Reynolds was back in 2020. At that point, he was the inaugural starting quarterback for the pioneering NFL Academy and one of ten athletes who had just taken part in the NFL Pro Bowl Skills Challenge in Orlando, competing against top American high school talent.
After that experience, Reynolds continued his football education at the University of Ottawa in Canada. He eventually shifted his focus from playing to coaching, dividing his time between the Academy, the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, and a stint with the Baltimore Ravens during the most recent offseason. "I always knew coaching was where I wanted to end up," Reynolds told Sky Sports.
"As an international player, the path to the United States felt like a massive barrier. I want to tear down those walls for the guys who follow, because I’ve lived that journey.
If I can give someone a better shot than I had, that’s a win for me. That’s really what sparked my interest in coaching, and my time at the Academy has only deepened that passion. I feel ready to compete at the highest level now." 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 ascent.
He believes more coaches with similar backgrounds will soon emerge, and Reynolds is a clear example of that vision. "I try to mirror what he’s done in my own career," Reynolds explained about Durde’s influence. "He was relentless—taking every internship, every coaching gig, learning, growing, and moving forward. He knew his worth and chased the opportunities that matched it.
That’s the benchmark I’m aiming for, and he’s been an incredible mentor. We stay in touch; he’s given me concrete advice on the steps I need to take and the materials I should prepare to position myself for a coaching role at the next level." Reynolds’ coaching journey began after returning 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 Reynolds secure a role at an IPP combine in London, an opportunity Reynolds seized wholeheartedly.
"That was a chance I couldn’t pass up," he 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 in every possible way." That dedication paved the way for Reynolds to serve as an assistant tight‑ends coach in the IPP program—a concept originally conceived by Durde—before landing his current position as the wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the Loughborough‑based NFL Academy. "I worked with Steve Hagan, who later became head coach of the Academy," Reynolds said.
"We coached Patrick Murtagh, who suffered an injury after signing with the Lions but still made it to the NFL a year later. When Coach Hagan moved back to Europe to lead the Academy, he immediately asked me to join his staff." Reynolds was part of the Academy’s inaugural class when the program launched in 2019, helping to lay the groundwork for an unprecedented pipeline that gives international athletes access to U.S.
college scholarships and, ultimately, professional opportunities. Since its inception, more than 40 students have earned U.S. college football scholarships, and 28 alumni are playing Division I football in the 2025‑2026 season.
The current roster represents 20 nationalities and includes athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds—some learning American football from scratch, others transitioning from sports like rugby. Coaching such a varied group requires a unique communication style. "You have to learn to speak a different language to someone who’s been playing the game for a decade versus a kid from Nigeria who’s never touched a football or an Australian who comes from a rugby background," Reynolds explained.
"If I can translate the fundamentals of the game to those newcomers, it actually simplifies my job when I later coach players who already understand the fundamentals." Reynolds also broadened his experience during the most recent offseason with the Baltimore Ravens, working under then‑tight‑ends coach George Godsey and offensive assistant Danny Breyer, who is now the Browns’ passing‑game coordinator. "That was one of the most valuable experiences of my career," he said.
"Being around pro players, absorbing the way they teach the game, and building relationships with coaches who are still in the league has been priceless. It gave me a clear picture of the standards I need to meet to coach at that level, and it also provided a stepping stone—if my name is recognized in those circles, doors start to open." Reynolds is passionate about his role at the Academy and sees it as a long‑term commitment, yet he remains eager to advance.
"I love coaching at the Academy and would stay forever if the circumstances were right," he said. "But as I grow, I want to test myself at a college or NFL team and help them win. If that means drawing up plays for the first year, I’m ready to do it.
I just need to be around the right staff that will allow me to develop further." His time with Baltimore came through a Bill Walsh internship, mirroring the path Durde took when he first joined 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 en route to a Super Bowl victory and earned head‑coach interviews this offseason. "It’s no surprise to see his success," Reynolds noted about Durde.
"What many don’t see is the sheer amount of hard work he put in to get there. He’s been a tireless advocate for international football, and his journey inspires my own path. He always told me to demonstrate value to any organization—hard work, dedication, and a clear motivation to contribute. That’s the message I carry forward." Durde’s story proves that elite football knowledge can be cultivated outside the United States, and Reynolds stands among the brightest young minds eager to leave their mark on an increasingly global game.