Coaching lineages are a staple of NFL culture, and Aden Durde is quietly building his own branch as the British figure who helped bring a Super Bowl ring to the international side of the sport. One of his protégés is quarterback‑turned‑coach George Reynolds. The most recent conversation I had with Reynolds was back in 2020, when he was the inaugural starting quarterback for the pioneering NFL Academy. He was also part of a select group of ten players who travelled to Orlando to take part in the NFL Pro Bowl skills challenges against American high‑school athletes.
After that experience, Reynolds continued his football education at the University of Ottawa in Canada. He eventually shifted his focus from playing to coaching, splitting his time between duties at the Academy, involvement with the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, and a stint with the Baltimore Ravens during the previous off‑season.
"I always knew coaching was something I wanted to do," Reynolds told Sky Sports. "As an international player the pathway to the United States felt like a huge wall. I wanted to knock that down for the guys who come after me because I’ve lived that journey.
If I can give someone a better chance than I had, that’s a win for me. That’s really what pulled me into coaching, and the more time I spend at the Academy the more I grow in that role.
I feel inspired to take the next step and prove I belong 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 "British‑style" stories are on the horizon, and Reynolds is eager to be part of that wave. "I try to mirror what he’s done in my own journey because he was relentless," Reynolds said of Durde’s ascent.
"Every opportunity he got—whether it was an internship or a coaching gig—he seized, learned, and moved forward. He was brutally honest about what he deserved and went after it.
That’s the benchmark I’m aiming for, and he’s also been a fantastic mentor. 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 to coaching began after his return 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 opening for me," 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 by being present and ready for any task." That dedication paved the way for Reynolds to become an assistant tight‑ends coach in the IPP program—a concept originally created by Durde—before landing his current position as wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the Loughborough‑based NFL Academy. "I worked with Steve Hagan, who later became head coach of the Academy," Reynolds explained. "We coached Patrick Murtagh, who suffered an injury after signing with the Lions but still managed to make an NFL roster 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 initiative was designed to give international athletes a clear route 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 American football for the first time, while others have already left their home countries 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 been playing football for a decade versus a teenager from Nigeria who has never touched a ball or an Australian who comes from a rugby background," Reynolds said. "If I can break down the fundamentals for someone completely new, it actually makes it easier when I later coach players who already have experience. It simplifies the teaching process and broadens my own skill set." During the most recent off‑season, Reynolds broadened his résumé with a period at the Baltimore Ravens, working 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 of my career," he reflected. "Being around pro players, hearing how they articulate the game, and building relationships with coaches who are still in touch with me today gave me a realistic benchmark of the level I need to reach. It also gave me a foot in the door—if my name is recognized within a building, doors open for the next step." "I love coaching at the Academy and could see myself staying there forever if the circumstances were right," Reynolds added. "But as I grow, I want to test myself at a college or NFL level and help teams win.
If that means drafting plays for the first year, I’m ready to do it. I just need to be surrounded by the right staff that will allow me to develop further." Reynolds’ time in Baltimore was part of a Bill Walsh internship, mirroring the path Durde took when he first entered the NFL as an intern with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 after a stint with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15. Durde’s career progressed from the Falcons to a defensive‑line coaching role with Dallas, and then to defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks under head coach Mike Macdonald in 2024.
He helped craft one of the league’s most feared defenses en route to a Super Bowl victory and earned head‑coaching interviews this off‑season. "It’s no surprise that Durde has risen so far, but many people don’t see how hard he’s worked to get there," Reynolds observed. "He’s been an advocate for international football, traveling everywhere, coaching, learning, and constantly adding value.
He always told me you have to show your worth to an organization. They want people who are relentless. To impress them, you have to bring value, demonstrate motivation, and prove you’ll do the right thing for the team." Durde’s story proves that deep football knowledge can be cultivated outside the United States, and Reynolds is among the brightest young minds eager to leave their imprint on an increasingly global game. With the NFL Academy continuing to produce talent from every corner of the world, the next generation of coaches and players—shaped by mentors like Durde and Reynolds—will likely redefine what it means to be an international football professional.