Coaching lineages are a staple of NFL culture, and Aden Durde is quietly building his own legacy as the British figure who helped the sport cross oceans and claim a Super Bowl ring. One of the protégés emerging from his shadow is former quarterback-turned-coach George Reynolds. The last time I caught up with Reynolds was back in 2020.
At that point he was the inaugural starting quarterback for the pioneering NFL Academy and one of a select group of ten players who had just taken part in the NFL Pro Bowl skills competitions in Orlando, pitting themselves against top American high‑school talent. Those early experiences set the tone for a journey that would soon take him north to the University of Ottawa, where he continued to hone his football IQ before shifting his focus from playing to coaching.
After his stint in Canada, Reynolds split his time between the Academy and the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, even landing a short‑term role with the Baltimore Ravens during the most recent offseason. "I always knew coaching was the direction I wanted to go," Reynolds told Sky Sports. "As an international player, the pathway to the United States felt like a massive wall. I wanted to knock that wall down for the guys who follow me, because I’ve walked that road myself.
If I can give someone a better chance than I had, that’s a win for everyone. That motivation is what pulled me into coaching, and every day at the Academy I feel myself growing in that role. I’m convinced I can compete 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 more coaches with similar backgrounds will soon appear, and Reynolds is eager to be part of that wave.
"I try to mirror what he’s done," Reynolds explained, referencing Durde’s relentless pursuit of every opportunity—whether an internship, a low‑level coaching gig, or a position on a professional staff. "He was ruthless in the sense that he knew his worth and went after it. That’s the blueprint I’m following, and he’s also been an incredible mentor. We stay in touch, and he’s given me concrete advice about the steps I need to take, the materials I should prepare, and how to present myself as a viable coaching candidate at the next level." Reynolds’ transition from player to coach 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 invited him to assist at an IPP combine in London, an opportunity Reynolds seized wholeheartedly. "I arrived at 6 a.m., was the first at the table, and stayed until 11 p.m.
doing whatever was needed," he recalled. That work ethic opened doors to an assistant tight‑ends coaching role within the IPP program—a venture originally conceived by Durde—and eventually led to his current position as wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the Loughborough‑based NFL Academy. Working alongside head coach Steve Hagan, Reynolds helped develop players like Patrick Murtagh, who suffered an injury after signing with the Detroit Lions but managed to make an NFL roster a year later. When Hagan moved back to Europe to take the Academy’s head‑coaching job, he immediately invited Reynolds onto his staff, cementing the young coach’s place in the organization.
Reynolds was part of the Academy’s inaugural class in 2019, a cohort that laid the groundwork for an unprecedented pipeline that now sends international athletes to U.S. colleges and, in some cases, directly to the NFL. Since its inception, more than 40 students have earned scholarships to American universities, and 28 alumni are competing in Division I football for the 2025‑2026 season.
The Academy’s roster today reflects a truly global mix—20 nationalities, athletes transitioning from rugby, soccer, and even cricket, as well as newcomers who have never touched a football before. 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 the game for ten years versus a teenager from Nigeria who’s never seen a football before, or an Australian who comes from a rugby background," Reynolds said.
"If I can translate the fundamentals of the sport to someone with no prior exposure, it actually makes coaching seasoned players easier because the basics are crystal clear." Last offseason, Reynolds broadened his résumé with a stint in Baltimore, where he worked under tight‑ends coach George Godsey and offensive assistant Danny Breyer—now the Browns’ passing‑game coordinator. "Being around pro players and watching how they teach the language of the game was priceless," he reflected.
"The connections I made there are still alive, and they give me a benchmark for the level I need to reach to coach at the NFL level. If I become a recognizable name in those buildings, doors will open for the next step." He described his time with the Ravens as a Bill Walsh internship, echoing the path Durde took when he first broke into the league as an intern with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15 before moving to the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. Durde’s climb continued with a defensive‑line role in Dallas, a defensive‑coordinator position with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024, and a Super Bowl‑winning defense that earned him head‑coach interview offers this offseason. "It’s not a surprise that Durde has succeeded," Reynolds noted.
"What people don’t see is the sheer grind he put in to get there. He’s been an advocate for international football every step of the way, and his work ethic is contagious.
He always told me to show my value, to bring something tangible to an organization. They want people who are willing to work hard and prove themselves. That’s the message I carry forward." Reynolds envisions a future where he can contribute to winning teams at the collegiate or professional level.
"I love coaching at the Academy and could stay forever if it were the right fit, but I also want to help a college or NFL team succeed. If that means drawing up plays for a season, I’m ready to do it. All I need is the right staff around me that allows me to grow." The story of Aden Durde and his protégé George Reynolds illustrates how football knowledge and passion can flourish far beyond the United States.
As the sport becomes increasingly global, coaches like Reynolds are poised to leave their own imprint on the game, proving that talent, tenacity, and a willingness to break down barriers can turn an international dream into a reality.