Aden Durde has become a household name in the NFL’s growing international narrative, and his influence is now spawning a new generation of British coaches. One of those protégés is George Reynolds, a former quarterback turned coach whose journey mirrors Durde’s own relentless climb. The last time I caught up with Reynolds was back in 2020. At that point he was the pioneering starting quarterback for the NFL Academy, a groundbreaking program that gave European talent a chance to compete against American high‑school players during the NFL Pro Bowl skills competitions in Orlando.
He was among a select group of ten players who made that historic appearance. After his stint at the Academy, Reynolds headed north to the University of Ottawa, where he continued to hone his football IQ. Rather than chasing a traditional playing career, he began to pivot toward coaching. He split his time between the Academy, the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, and even earned a brief but valuable role with the Baltimore Ravens during the most recent offseason.
"I always knew coaching was the path for me," Reynolds told Sky Sports. "As an international player the route to the United States felt like a massive barrier. I wanted to break that barrier down for the guys who follow me because I’ve lived through the whole process. If I can give someone a better opportunity than I had, that feels like the right thing to do.
That’s really what drew me into coaching and, as I’ve grown at the Academy, my desire to coach at the highest level has only intensified." Durde, who made history as the first British coordinator to win a Super Bowl in February, has long spoken about the "domino effect" of his own unlikely story. He believes his success will inspire more British and international coaches to follow suit, and Reynolds is a living example of that belief in action. "I try to emulate what Aden has done," Reynolds said.
"He was relentless—whether it was an internship or a coaching gig, he seized every chance, learned from it, and moved on to the next step. He knew his worth and went after the jobs he deserved.
That mindset is exactly where I want to be. He’s also been a fantastic mentor; we stay in regular contact, and 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’ transition to coaching truly began when he returned from Canada and reached out to his 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 a golden opportunity for me," Reynolds recalled.
"I showed up at 6 a.m., was the first person at the table, and stayed until 11 p.m. doing whatever was needed.
I wanted to prove my value by being there whenever the staff required help." That dedication opened doors to an assistant tight‑ends coaching position within the IPP program—a venture originally conceived by Durde and based in the United States. It eventually led to Reynolds’ current role as the wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the NFL Academy in Loughborough. "I worked alongside Steve Hagan, who later became the Academy’s head coach," Reynolds explained.
"We coached players like Patrick Murtagh, who, despite an injury that delayed his NFL debut, eventually signed with the Detroit Lions a year later. When Coach Hagan moved back to Europe to lead the Academy, he immediately invited me onto his staff." Reynolds was part of the Academy’s inaugural class when the program launched in 2019. The Academy was designed 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 football scholarships in the United States, and 28 alumni are competing at the Division I level in the 2025‑2026 season.
The current roster features athletes from 20 different nationalities, many of whom are learning American football for the first time or have recently left their home countries to train in the UK. Coaching such a diverse group demands a unique communication style. "You have to adapt your language for a kid who has played football for a decade versus a teenager from Nigeria who’s never set foot on a gridiron, or an Australian who comes from a rugby background," Reynolds said.
"Teaching the fundamentals in a way that resonates with each background actually sharpens my own coaching toolkit. It forces me to break down concepts to their core, which makes it easier when I later work with seasoned players who already understand the basics." Last offseason, Reynolds broadened his résumé with a stint in Baltimore, working under tight‑ends coach George Godsey and offensive assistant Danny Breyer—now the Browns’ passing‑game coordinator. He describes the experience as "invaluable." "Being around pro players, absorbing the way they articulate the game, and forming relationships with the coaching staff has been a game‑changer," he noted.
"It gave me a clear 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 within those circles, doors open more easily when I aim for the next step." Reynolds is passionate about his work at the Academy and sees it as a long‑term calling, yet he remains ambitious about future opportunities. "I love coaching here and would stay forever if the circumstances were right, but I also want to test myself at the college or NFL level and help teams win," he said.
"If that means drawing up plays for a first‑year playbook, I’m ready to do it. My goal is to be around the right staff that pushes my development forward." His time with the Ravens was part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, a pathway similar to the one Durde followed when he landed his first NFL job with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 after interning with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15. Durde later served as the Dallas defensive‑line coach, then as 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 to see Durde excel," Reynolds remarked.
"What many don’t realize is the sheer amount of hard work he put in to get where he is. He’s been an advocate for international football, traveling everywhere, coaching, learning, and constantly proving his value. That’s the blueprint I’m following.
You have to demonstrate value to an organization—hard work, dedication, and the right attitude are non‑negotiable." Durde’s story proves that football expertise can be cultivated far beyond U.S. borders, and Reynolds stands among the brightest of the new wave of coaches eager to leave their imprint on a sport that is rapidly becoming global.
Their combined narratives illustrate how determination, mentorship, and a willingness to seize every opportunity can turn a modest beginning into a career that reshapes the international football landscape.