Aden Durde has become a household name in the expanding world of international football, building an unofficial coaching tree that stretches from the United Kingdom to the NFL’s grandest stage. As the first British coordinator to hoist a Super Bowl trophy, Durde’s journey has sparked a wave of aspiring coaches, one of whom is former NFL Academy quarterback George Reynolds. 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 just ten young athletes who had the chance to test their skills against American high‑school players during the NFL Pro Bowl skills competition in Orlando. After that experience, he headed north to the University of Ottawa, where he continued his development on the Canadian gridiron. Upon completing his playing career, Reynolds shifted his focus 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 something I wanted to do," Reynolds told Sky Sports. "As an international player, the path to America felt like a massive wall.

I wanted to break that wall down for the guys who come after me, because I’ve been through the whole process. If I can give someone a better opportunity than I had, that feels right. That’s really why I got into coaching, and the Academy has helped me grow every day.

I think I’m ready to take that to the highest level." Durde, who made history in February by becoming the first British coordinator to win a Super Bowl, has long spoken about creating a domino effect from his unlikely rise. He believes more coaches with similar backgrounds will soon follow, and Reynolds is eager to be one of them.

"I try to mirror what he’s done in my own journey," Reynolds explained of Durde’s relentless climb. "Every internship, every coaching gig, he grabbed it, learned from it, and moved on to the next step. He was ruthless in the best way—he knew his worth and pursued the jobs he deserved.

That’s the place I want to be, and he’s been an incredible mentor. We stay in touch; he’s given me practical advice on the steps I need to take and the materials I should prepare to give myself the best shot at coaching at the next level." Reynolds’ transition to 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 arrange a role for Reynolds at an IPP combine in London. "That was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up," 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 in every way possible." That dedication opened doors to an assistant tight‑ends coaching position within the IPP program—a concept originally devised by Durde—and eventually led to Reynolds’ 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 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 called me straight away and asked me to join 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 football scholarships in the United States, and 28 alumni are playing Division I football in the 2025‑2026 season. The current roster features athletes from 20 different nationalities, many of whom are learning the sport from scratch or have moved to the UK for the first time to chase their football dreams.

Coaching such a diverse group requires a unique communication style. "You have to learn to speak a different language to a kid who’s been playing football for ten years versus a teenager from Nigeria who has never touched a ball," Reynolds explained.

"If I can teach a Nigerian newcomer or an Australian rugby player the fundamentals and the terminology of American football, it actually makes coaching seasoned players easier later on because I’ve honed the skill of breaking concepts down to their core elements." During the most recent offseason, Reynolds added a valuable experience to his résumé by working with the Baltimore Ravens. He spent time alongside 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 I’ve had," he said.

"Being around pro players, seeing how they teach the language of the game, and building relationships with coaches who are still in the league has been priceless. It gave me a clear benchmark of the level I need to reach to coach at the NFL level, and it also gave me a stepping stone—if my name is recognized in those buildings, more doors open for the next step." Reynolds is passionate about his work at the Academy and sees it as a long‑term home, but he also harbors ambitions to move up the coaching ladder. "I love coaching at the Academy and could stay here forever if it made sense," he admitted.

"However, as I grow, I want to impact a college program or an NFL team. 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 staff around me that will allow me to keep developing." 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 defensive line coach for Dallas, then the defensive coordinator for Seattle under Mike Macdonald in 2024, where he helped craft one of the league’s most feared defenses on the road to a Super Bowl victory and earned head‑coaching interview opportunities this offseason. "It’s not a surprise that Durde has succeeded," Reynolds observed.

"What many don’t see is how hard he worked to put himself in those positions. He’s been an advocate for international football, traveling everywhere, coaching, learning, and constantly proving his value. That’s the inspiration for my own path. He told me you have to show value to an organization—hard work, dedication, and the right motivation are what get you noticed." Durde’s story demonstrates 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 a game that is becoming increasingly global.

With mentors like Durde and a growing network of international talent, the future of coaching in the NFL looks more diverse than ever before.