Aden Durde has become a household name in the NFL’s growing international narrative, building an unofficial coaching lineage that highlights the sport’s global reach. One of the most notable protégés emerging from his mentorship is 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 just ten players who had taken part in the NFL Pro Bowl skills challenges in Orlando, competing against American high‑school talent.
After that experience he headed north to the University of Ottawa in Canada, where he continued to hone his abilities on the field. However, his path soon veered toward coaching.
He now splits 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 route to America felt like a massive hurdle.
I wanted to break down those barriers for the guys who follow, because I’ve lived through the whole process. If I can give someone a better chance than I had, that’s a win for me. That’s really why I got into coaching, and the Academy has helped me grow every day. I feel ready to take that experience to 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 journey.
He believes more coaches with similar backgrounds are on the horizon, and Reynolds is a living example of that vision. "I try to mirror what he’s done in my own career because he was relentless," Reynolds explained about Durde’s rise.
"Every opportunity—internships, coaching gigs—he seized, learned from, and used as a springboard. He was unapologetically ambitious, knew his worth, and went after the jobs he deserved.
That’s exactly where I aim to be. 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 a coaching role 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 him secure a role at an IPP combine in London, giving Reynolds a foothold in the professional side of the sport.
"That was an opportunity I could not 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 possible way." That dedication opened doors to an assistant tight‑ends coaching position within the IPP program—the very initiative Durde created in the United States—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 later became head coach of the Academy," 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 when it launched in 2019. The program was designed 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 U.S. college football scholarships, and 28 alumni are competing at the Division I level in the 2025‑2026 season. The current roster reflects a truly global mix—20 nationalities, athletes transitioning from rugby in Australia, soccer in Nigeria, and even 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 football for ten years versus a teenager from Nigeria who’s never seen a ball, or an Australian who comes from rugby," Reynolds explained. "If I can translate the fundamentals of the game to someone with no background, it actually makes coaching more straightforward than working with a seasoned player who already has ingrained habits." Last offseason, Reynolds broadened his experience with a stint in Baltimore, working alongside then‑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 language of the game, and building relationships that still exist today gave me a clear benchmark of the level I need to reach. It also gave me a stepping stone: if I become a recognized name in those buildings, doors open for the next move." Reynolds expressed a deep affection for the Academy, stating, "I love coaching here and would stay forever if the circumstances were right.
But as I grow, I want to impact a college program or an NFL team. My goal is to help teams win. If that means drawing up the first playbook in a new role, I’m ready to do it.
All I need is the right staff around me that lets me continue to develop." His time with the Ravens was part of a Bill Walsh internship—a pathway similar to the one Durde used to break into the NFL, beginning with an internship at the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15, moving to the Atlanta Falcons in 2016, and later becoming a defensive line coach for Dallas before joining the Seattle Seahawks as defensive coordinator in 2024. Durde’s ascent culminated in a Super Bowl victory and head‑coach interview opportunities this offseason. "It’s not surprising to see his success, but many don’t realize how hard he worked to get there," Reynolds noted.
"He’s been an advocate for international football, traveling, coaching, and building relationships across continents. The lesson he taught me is simple: you have to show value.
Organizations want hard‑working people who bring something unique. My job is to prove I can add that value and earn the trust of the coaching staff." Durde’s story proves that deep football knowledge can be cultivated outside the United States, and Reynolds stands among the brightest of the new generation eager to leave their imprint on an increasingly global game.