Aden Durde has become a household name in the NFL’s growing international narrative, building an unofficial coaching lineage that highlights the league’s expanding global footprint. One of his most prominent protégés is George Reynolds, a former quarterback turned aspiring coach whose journey mirrors the challenges and opportunities faced by players outside the United States.
The last time I spoke with Reynolds was back in 2020, when he was the inaugural starting quarterback for the pioneering NFL Academy. At that time he was also one of ten athletes selected to compete against American high‑school stars in the NFL Pro Bowl skills competition held in Orlando. After that experience, Reynolds continued his football education at the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Rather than persisting with a playing career, he gradually shifted his focus 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.
"As an international player, the pathway to the U.S. was a massive obstacle for me. I want to tear down those barriers for the guys who follow, because I’ve lived through the whole process.
If I can give someone a better chance than I had, that feels right. That’s really what sparked my interest in coaching, and my time at the Academy has only deepened my commitment. I feel ready to take the next step and prove I can succeed 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 rise.
He believes his story is just the beginning, and that more coaches with similar backgrounds will soon emerge. Reynolds echoes that sentiment, saying, "I try to emulate what Aden has done in my own career.
He was relentless—every internship, every coaching gig, he seized, learned from, and used as a springboard to the next opportunity. He was unapologetically ambitious, knew his worth, and pursued the positions he deserved. That’s exactly where I aim to be.
He’s also been a fantastic mentor; we stay in touch, and he’s given me concrete advice on the steps I need to take and the materials I should prepare to position myself as a credible NFL‑level coach." His transition into coaching 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 assisting at an IPP combine in London.
"That was a chance I couldn’t pass up," Reynolds recalled. "I arrived 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 every single day." That dedication opened doors to an assistant tight‑ends coaching position within the IPP program—Durde’s brainchild—stateside, and eventually led to his current role as wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the Loughborough‑based NFL Academy. "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 made it to the NFL a year later.
When Coach Hagan moved 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 lay the groundwork for a pathway that now offers unprecedented opportunities to international athletes seeking U.S. college scholarships and professional prospects. 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 features athletes from 20 different nationalities and a variety of sporting backgrounds—some are learning American football from scratch, while others have left their home countries for the first time to train in the United Kingdom. Coaching such a diverse group demands a unique communication style. "You have to learn to speak the language of football to a kid who’s played the sport for ten years, and also to a teenager from Nigeria who has never touched a ball, or an Australian who comes from a rugby background," Reynolds said.
"If you can break down the fundamentals in a way that resonates with a complete beginner, it actually makes coaching more seasoned players easier because you’ve mastered the basics of clear instruction." Reynolds also broadened his experience during the previous 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, observing how they teach the game, and building relationships with coaches who still reach out to me has been priceless. It gave me a realistic benchmark of the level I need to reach to coach in the NFL, and it also gave me a foothold—if my name is recognized in those circles, doors start to open." Reynolds is clear about his long‑term aspirations. "I love coaching at the Academy and could see myself there forever if the circumstances were right, but I also want to move on to a college or NFL team and make a tangible impact.
I want to help teams win. If that means drawing up plays for the first year, I’m ready to do it. All I need is the right environment and a coaching staff that will let me grow." His time with Baltimore came through a Bill Walsh internship, a pathway similar to the one Durde used to break into the league.
Durde’s own journey began with an internship at the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15, followed by a position with the Atlanta Falcons from 2016‑2020, a stint as Dallas’s defensive‑line coach, and then a promotion to Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator under Mike Macdonald in 2024. Durde helped craft one of the league’s most feared defenses en route to a Super Bowl victory and is now being courted for head‑coaching roles. "It’s not surprising that Durde has risen so far, but many don’t see the sheer amount of work he put in to get there," Reynolds noted. "He’s been a tireless advocate for international football, traveling, coaching, and networking everywhere.
The lesson I take from him is simple: you have to show your value. Organizations want hardworking people who bring tangible benefits.
To impress them, you must demonstrate you’ll contribute positively to the culture and performance of the team." Durde’s story proves that deep football knowledge and strategic acumen can be cultivated far beyond American borders. Reynolds, among the brightest of the Academy’s emerging minds, is determined to leave his own imprint on a sport that is rapidly becoming global in scope.