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 British coaches. One of those protégés is George Reynolds, a former quarterback turned budding coach whose journey mirrors Durde’s own relentless climb. The last time I caught up with Reynolds was back in 2020, when he was still the inaugural starting quarterback for the pioneering NFL Academy. At that time he was among 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.
That experience was a watershed moment for the young Briton, giving him a taste of the elite level and a glimpse of what could be possible beyond the UK. After his stint at the Academy, Reynolds crossed the border to Canada to continue his education and football development at the University of Ottawa. While his playing career eventually gave way to a coaching calling, the lessons he learned on the field proved invaluable.
Upon returning to the UK, he split his time between the Academy and the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, and even secured a role 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, there was a huge barrier to getting to America.
I wanted to break that barrier down for the guys coming after me because I’ve lived that 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 more time I spend at the Academy, the more I grow in that role. I feel ready to take the next step and prove I can coach at the highest level." Durde, who made history in February by becoming the first British coordinator to win a Super Bowl, has long spoken about the "domino effect" of his own unlikely rise. He believes his story is just the first of many similar narratives that will follow, and Reynolds is a living example of that belief.
"I try to mirror what he’s done through my own journey because he was relentless," Reynolds explained. "Every internship, every coaching gig, he took it, learned from it, and moved forward. He was ruthless in the sense that he knew his worth and went after the jobs he deserved. That’s the level I’m aiming for, and he’s been a fantastic mentor throughout.
We stay in touch; I’ve spoken with him several times recently, and he’s given me concrete 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 from player to coach 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 Reynolds secure a position assisting 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, and I was willing to work any hours necessary." That dedication opened the door to a role as an assistant tight‑ends coach for the IPP program in the United States—a program originally conceived by Durde. Eventually Reynolds returned to the UK to accept his current post as the wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the NFL Academy based in Loughborough. "I worked with Steve Hagan, who is now the head coach of the Academy," Reynolds said.
"We coached Patrick Murtagh, who suffered an injury after signing with the Lions but still made the NFL a year later. When Coach Hagan moved to Europe to take the Academy’s head‑coaching job, 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, helping to lay the foundation for what has become an unprecedented pathway for international athletes seeking U.S. college scholarships and, ultimately, professional opportunities. Since its inception, more than 40 Academy students have earned scholarships to American colleges, and 28 alumni are playing Division I football in the 2025‑2026 season.
The current roster represents 20 nationalities, featuring athletes who are learning football from scratch as well as those who have left their home countries for the first time to train in the UK. 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 a teenager from Nigeria who’s never touched a ball or a youngster from Australia who comes from a rugby background," Reynolds explained. "If I can teach the fundamentals of the game to someone who’s brand‑new, it actually makes it easier when I later coach players who already have experience.
It simplifies the teaching process and broadens my skill set as a coach." Last offseason, Reynolds added another valuable chapter to his résumé with a stint at the Baltimore Ravens. There he worked under then‑tight‑ends coach George Godsey and offensive assistant Danny Breyer, who is now the passing‑game coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.
"That was one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had," he said. "Being around pro players, hearing 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 picture of the standards I need to meet to coach at the NFL level, and it gave me a foothold—if my name is recognized in those buildings, doors start opening for the next step." Reynolds expressed a deep affection for his work at the Academy, but he also harbors ambitions beyond its walls.
"I love coaching here and could see myself staying forever if the circumstances were right, but as I grow, I want to move to a college program or an NFL team and make an impact. I want to help teams win. If that means drawing up plays for the first year, I’m willing to do it. All I need is the right environment and the right staff to keep me developing," he affirmed.
His time with Baltimore came through a Bill Walsh internship—a path similar to the one Durde followed when he first landed a role with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 after interning with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15. Durde later served as Dallas’s defensive‑line coach, then joined the Seattle Seahawks as 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 interview opportunities this offseason.
"It’s not a surprise that Durde has succeeded," Reynolds noted. "What people often overlook is the sheer amount of hard work he put in to get where he is. He’s been a tireless advocate for international football, traveling, coaching, and building relationships everywhere. That’s the inspiration for my own path.
He always told me to show my value, to bring something tangible to an organization. Hard work and value creation are what open doors." Durde’s story proves that football expertise can be cultivated far beyond U.S. borders, and Reynolds stands among the brightest young minds eager to leave their imprint on a sport that is rapidly becoming global.
As the NFL continues to expand its international footprint, coaches like Reynolds—shaped by mentors such as Durde and seasoned by experiences from London to Baltimore—are poised to shape the next chapter of the game’s worldwide evolution.