The Seattle Seahawks are gearing up to hire Aden Durde as their defensive coordinator, according to insider information shared with ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
Durde’s Background and Experience
Durde, who has served as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line coach for the past three seasons under Dan Quinn’s leadership, brings a wealth of experience to the Seahawks. Before his stint with the Cowboys, Durde worked with the Atlanta Falcons, starting as a coaching intern in 2016 before progressing to roles as a defensive assistant from 2018-2019 and the outside linebackers coach in 2020, all while Quinn was at the helm. His NFL coaching journey began as an intern with the Cowboys from 2014-2015.
Macdonald’s Plans for Defensive Play Calling
In his introductory press conference, new Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, formerly with the Baltimore Ravens, shared his intention to initially take charge of calling defensive plays for Seattle. However, he expressed plans to eventually delegate these responsibilities to a defensive coordinator “when it becomes obvious that someone else is ready to go and we see it the same way.”
With Durde slated for the role, Macdonald is well on his way to completing his coaching staff, having already secured Jay Harbaugh for special teams. Additionally, Macdonald has appointed Leslie Frazier as assistant head coach.
Transition from Hurtt: Durde’s Role
Durde steps into the shoes of Clint Hurtt, who oversaw Seattle’s defense for the past two seasons before joining the Philadelphia Eagles as their defensive line coach. Durde assumes control of a defense that faced challenges in 2023, ranking 25th in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed. Seattle’s run defense also struggled in 2022 and continued its decline last season, allowing the highest rushing yards among all NFL teams over the past two years.
Durde’s Playing Career and Coaching Transition
A native of London, Durde boasts a background as a linebacker in NFL Europe, where he played for six seasons with the Scottish Claymores and Hamburg Sea Devils. He also spent time on practice squads for the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs. Following his playing career, Durde transitioned into coaching, serving as the defensive coordinator for the London Warriors for six seasons. Additionally, he played a pivotal role as head of operations at NFLUK, contributing to the development of the International Player Pathway Program.