On Tuesday, Seattle announced seven official hires to Coach Mike Macdonald’s 2024 staff. Here are a few things to know new defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
International Talent
Born in Middlesex, England, Durde grew up playing the American football, eventually playing linebacker for the London Olympians club before joining the Scottish Claymores of the now-defunct NFL Europe in 2003.
In 2005, Durde would get an opportunity to come across the pond, joining the Carolina Panthers practice squad. Durde would return to NFL Europe that year to join the Hamburg Sea Devils. In 2007, Hamburg captured the NFL Europa World Bowl XV Championship - the last title in league history. In 2008, Durde gave the NFL another try, joining the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.
Gamechanger: NFL's First Full-Time British Coach
After calling it a career as a player, Durde joined the London Warriors of the BAFA National Leagues as defensive coordinator. During his five-year tenure with the franchise, Durde landed an opportunity as a coaching intern for the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. At the same time, Durde served as head of football development for NFLUK, bridging the gap for players deserving of an international opportunity.
In 2016, Durde would land an opportunity to join the Atlanta Falcons via the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship. Two years later, Durde was given the opportunity to elevate to defensive quality control coach - becoming the first British full-time coach in league history. By 2020, Durde would again be promoted, spending his last season with the franchise as outside linebackers coach. Former Falcons linebacker coach Jeff Ulbrich discussed Durde’s tenure in Atlanta during a 2020 interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"I didn't know what to think of him," said Ulbrich. "I just knew he had a British accent, and he was very interesting. But he's become one of my best friends. He's this transparent human being that we all need in our lives. He's incapable of (faking it with) anyone about anything. He doesn't care if you're the president. He doesn't care if you're a CEO. He's going to tell you what's on his mind and we all need that."
After spending 2021-2023 with the Dallas Cowboys as defensive line coach, Durde joining Seattle makes him the league's first British-born defensive coordinator.
Growing The Game Internationally
Even before he was a trailblazer as the league's first British full-time coach and later defensive coordinator, Durde was playing a big role in growing the game of American football overseas. As part of the league's International Player Pathway Program. While serving as the head of football development for NFLUK, Durde worked with former NFL standout Osi Umenyiora to help create an international training program that would eventually grow into the International Player Pathway Program.
Cowboys Defensive Line: Creating Pressure
From 2021-2023, Durde served as Cowboys' defensive line coach, helping Dallas to rank Top-7 overall in team defense each season. In 2021, Durde's defensive line helped to produce 41 sacks, tying for tenth amongst all teams, and in 2022, Dallas' 54 sacks tied for third league-wide. This season, Dallas (46) fell a sack short of Seattle (47), tying for ninth-most across the NFL.
He Sees Defense Similarly To Macdonald
Macdonald has no direct ties to his new defensive coordinator, but that didn't keep him from jumping at the chance to bring Durde on board, especially after seeing how well Durde handled the interview process.
"It speaks to the process, the mentality we had about trying to find the best people with the personality and the mindset and the track record that we're looking for," Macdonald said of hiring Durde. "Aden came in highly recommended, he got on our interview list, and knocked it out of the park when we first sat down. Just listening to him talk about how he sees the game was very similar to how I saw it in terms of what you need to do to be able defend offenses these days. And he had some really interesting perspectives, so we thought, 'Shoot, we've got to get this guy in here in person.' We brought him in, he did a great job, and it just kind of took off from there. So I'm really excited to work with him, and he's coming into town later on today, actually, so we're excited to sit down and start building the staff out."
The Seahawks hired England native Aden Durde as their next defensive coordinator. Durde most recently was the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys and had previously spent a training camp working with the Atlanta Falcons. Check out some of the best photos of Durde through the years.
This is a 2019 photo of Aden Durde of the Atlanta Falcons NFL football team. This image reflects the Atlanta Falcons active roster as of Monday, June 10, 2019 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde runs the steps of the lower bowl at AT&T Stadium before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Nov. 14, 2021. Durde is the first British-born coach to get a full-time job in the NFL. He is a product of the league's coaching diversity programs. Durde is in his second stint with the Cowboys after starting out as a coaching intern. The London native's first full-time job came under Dan Quinn in Atlanta. Durde joined the Cowboys after Quinn was hired as defensive coordinator. The former NFL Europe linebacker also has done plenty of work in player development in his home country. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde, right, works with players during warmups before the first half an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde works with the defense during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov, 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde works with the defense during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov, 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde works with players during warmups before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde warms up players before the start of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde, left, warms up defensive end Azur Kamara (54) before the start of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde warms up players before the start of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde works with defensive end Tarell Basham (93) during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov, 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
This is a 2022 photo of Aden Durde of the Dallas Cowboys NFL football team. This image reflects the Dallas Cowboys active roster as of May 12, 2022 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde watches his players before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde talks to players on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach, Aden Durde, talks to players on the sideline during an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Dallas Cowboys coach Aden Durde talks to his players during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde, left, walks with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn prior to an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde looks on prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
