Aden Durde has become a household name in the NFL’s growing international narrative, and his influence is now echoing through a new generation of coaches. One of his most prominent protégés is former quarterback-turned-coach George Reynolds, whose journey illustrates how the pathways Durde helped forge are beginning to bear fruit. The last time I spoke with Reynolds was back in 2020.
At that moment he was the inaugural starting quarterback for the groundbreaking NFL Academy, a program designed to give overseas talent a taste of American football at a high level. He was also one of ten academy athletes who travelled to Orlando for the NFL Pro Bowl skills competition, where they measured themselves against U.S. high‑school standouts. After that showcase, Reynolds headed north to the University of Ottawa, where he continued to hone his quarterback skills.
However, his ambitions soon shifted from playing to coaching. He returned to the NFL Academy, took on roles within the International Player Pathway (IPP) system, and even spent 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 road to America 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 everyone. That’s what pulled me into coaching, and the more time I spend at the academy, the more I realize I can climb higher.
I truly believe I can operate 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 own unlikely ascent. He believes that his success will inspire more British and international coaches to break into the NFL’s inner circles, and Reynolds is living proof of that theory. "I try to mirror what he’s done in my own career," Reynolds explained.
"He was relentless—any internship, any coaching gig, he seized it, learned from it, and moved forward. He was unapologetically confident about what he deserved and went after those roles. That’s exactly the mindset I’m adopting. 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, the materials I should prepare, and how to position myself for the next coaching opportunity." Reynolds’ transition from player to coach began after his Canadian stint when he reached out to former Kent Exiles teammate James Cook, now Senior Director of Player Development for the Cleveland Browns. Cook offered him a chance to assist at an IPP combine in London, a foothold Reynolds seized without hesitation.
"That was my foot in the door," he recalled. "I arrived 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 through sheer hard work." That dedication opened the door to an assistant tight‑ends coaching position within the IPP program—a concept originally conceived by Durde—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 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 immediately and asked me to join his staff." Reynolds was part of the Academy’s inaugural class in 2019, helping to lay the groundwork for a program that now offers unprecedented opportunities to international athletes seeking U.S. college scholarships and beyond. 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 a variety of sporting backgrounds—some are learning 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 a different language to a kid who’s played football for ten years versus someone who’s never touched a ball," Reynolds noted. "If I can break down the fundamentals for a Nigerian teenager 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." Last offseason, Reynolds broadened his experience with a stint at 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 said. "Being around pro players, absorbing the way they teach the game, and building relationships that still exist today gave me a clear picture of the standard required to coach at the NFL level. It also gave me a stepping stone: if I become a recognized name within an organization, doors will open for the next move." Reynolds expressed a deep affection for the Academy, but he also harbors ambitions to impact the game at higher levels.
"I love coaching at the Academy and could see myself there forever if the circumstances were right," he said. "However, as I grow, I want to contribute to a college program or an NFL team and help them win.
If that means drawing up plays for a rookie season, I’m ready to do it. All I need is the right environment and a coaching staff that supports my development." His time with Baltimore came through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, a route similar to the one Durde took when he secured his first NFL position with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 after an internship with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15. Durde later served as the Dallas defensive‑line coach, then as Seattle’s 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 not surprising to see Durde succeed," Reynolds observed.
"What many overlook is the relentless work he put in to get there. He’s been a tireless advocate for international football, traveling, coaching, and networking across continents. His story is the blueprint for my own path. He always told me to demonstrate value to an organization—hard work, dedication, and a clear motivation to contribute are what get you noticed." Durde’s narrative proves that high‑level football knowledge can be cultivated outside the United States, and Reynolds stands among the brightest young minds eager to leave their imprint on a sport that is increasingly global in scope.