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 football minds. One of those protégés is George Reynolds, a former quarterback turned coach whose journey mirrors Durde’s own relentless climb from the UK to the highest echelons of American football.
The last time I spoke 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 athletes who had the rare chance to test their skills against American high‑school players during the NFL Pro Bowl skills challenges in Orlando. Those early experiences laid a foundation that would later take him across the border to the University of Ottawa in Canada, where he continued his development on the field before deciding to pivot toward coaching. Reynolds now splits his time between the NFL Academy and the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, while also having spent part of last offseason with the Baltimore Ravens.
"I always knew coaching was where I wanted to end up," he told Sky Sports. "As an international player, the path to America felt like a massive barrier. I want to break that barrier for the guys who follow, because I’ve lived through the whole process. If I can give someone a better opportunity than I had, that means a lot to me.
That’s really why I got into coaching, and the Academy has helped me grow every day. I feel ready to take that 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—his unlikely rise should inspire others to follow. Reynolds echoes that sentiment, saying, "I try to model what Aden has done in my own journey.
He was relentless—every internship, every coaching gig, he seized 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 exactly where I want to be, and he’s been a fantastic mentor throughout." Their relationship remains active; Reynolds notes recent phone calls in which Durde offered concrete advice on the steps and materials needed to position himself as a viable NFL coaching candidate. Reynolds’ transition from player to coach began after his stint in 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 my foot in the door," Reynolds recalled.
"I arrived 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 at every opportunity." That work ethic paved the way for Reynolds to become an assistant tight‑ends coach for the IPP program in the United States—a venture originally conceived by Durde. Today he serves as the wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the Loughborough‑based NFL Academy.
"I worked with Steve Hagan, who’s now the head coach of the Academy," Reynolds explained. "We coached Patrick Murtagh, who unfortunately got injured 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, helping to build a program that now offers unprecedented pathways for international athletes seeking college scholarships and professional opportunities in the United States. 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 features athletes from 20 different nationalities, many of whom are learning the game from scratch or have migrated to the UK for the first time to pursue the sport. Coaching such a diverse group demands a unique communication style.
"You have to learn to talk to a kid who’s played football for ten years very differently than you would to a teenager from Nigeria who’s never set foot on a gridiron, or an Australian who comes from a rugby background," Reynolds said. "If I can translate the language of football to someone who’s new to the sport, it actually makes coaching seasoned players easier because the fundamentals are crystal clear.” Last offseason, Reynolds broadened his résumé with a stint in Baltimore, 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, absorbing how they teach the game, and building relationships that still exist today gave me a clear picture of the level I need to reach to coach in the NFL. It also gave me a stepping stone—if my name is recognized in those buildings, doors open for the next move." Reynolds admits his ultimate goal is to help teams win, whether at the Academy, a college program, or an NFL franchise.
"I love coaching at the Academy and could see myself there forever if it were the right fit, but as I grow I want to impact a college or NFL team. If that means drawing up plays for the first year, I’m ready to do it. I just need to be around the right staff that lets me develop." His time with the Ravens came through the Bill Walsh coaching fellowship, a route similar to Durde’s early career. Durde started as an intern with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15, moved to the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 where he eventually became a defensive assistant, later served as Dallas’s defensive‑line coach, and was hired as Seattle’s defensive coordinator under Mike Macdonald in 2024.
Durde’s work helped shape one of the league’s most feared defenses on the way to a Super Bowl victory, and he has been interviewed for head‑coaching positions this offseason. "It’s not a surprise that Durde’s risen so far," Reynolds said. "What many don’t see is the sheer amount of hard work he put in to get there. He’s been an advocate for international football, traveling everywhere, coaching, learning, and proving his worth.
That’s the inspiration for my own path. He told me you have to show value to an organization. They want people who are relentless, who bring value, and who are motivated to do the right thing for the team. That’s the message I carry forward." With Durde’s story serving as proof that elite football knowledge can be cultivated outside the United States, Reynolds stands among the brightest young coaches eager to leave their imprint on an increasingly global game.
His blend of playing experience, coaching versatility, and dedication to breaking down barriers positions him as a promising figure in the next wave of international NFL talent.