Super Bowl LX marked a historic moment that went beyond the final score.
The Seattle Seahawks’ victory over the New England Patriots carried added significance on the sideline.
One member of the coaching staff achieved something that has never been done before in NFL history.
Aden Durde’s presence represented a breakthrough for British involvement in the league.
Here is a deep dive into his journey to NFL fame, which has followed a path unlike almost any other.
Aden Durde’s career path from Middlesex to the NFL
Born in Middlesex, England, Durde began playing American football with the London Olympians before progressing into NFL Europe.
He played linebacker for the Scottish Claymores and later the Hamburg Sea Devils, gaining experience at a professional level outside the United States.
Durde also spent time on the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs practice squads through the NFL International Development Practice Squad program.
While his playing career opened doors, it was coaching where he truly established himself.
He became the defensive coordinator of the London Warriors from 2011 to 2016, a period that proved pivotal in his development.
That role earned Durde an internship with the Dallas Cowboys and later a place in the Bill Walsh NFL diversity coaching fellowship with the Atlanta Falcons.
He joined Atlanta as a defensive quality control coach in 2018 and was promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2020.
The Cowboys later brought him back as their defensive line coach, a position he held for three seasons, firmly cementing his reputation in NFL circles.
Aden Durde’s Super Bowl achievement and NFL history
Durde’s rise continued when Mike Macdonald appointed him defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks in 2024.
Over the next two seasons, he played a central role in building one of the league’s most effective defenses. That unit became the backbone of Seattle’s Super Bowl run.
With the Seahawks defeating the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Durde became the first British coach to win a Super Bowl.
The achievement marked a landmark moment for the NFL and for international coaches hoping to follow a similar path.
Durde’s success highlighted how far global development pathways have come, and how impactful they can be at the highest level of the sport.
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