The Seattle Seahawks saw many changes this offseason to the team that won the Super Bowl last season. Not only did key free agents leave, but so did key members of the coaching staff, such as former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak going to the Las Vegas Raiders to be head coach. One coach who didn't leave is Aden Durde.
That's not a bad thing. The defensive coordinator is rapidly becoming more respected around the NFL as one of the leaders among head coach Mike Macdonald's staff. To make matters more impressive, Durde is succeeding despite the fact that he is from the UK.
Not that people from the UK are bad, of course, but it is not a nation that cares to understand the ins and outs of the National Football League all that much. Durde did, and he moved to the United States and applied himself. He even had a couple of opportunities to interview for head coaching vacancies this offseason.
Aden Durde has a message that Seattle Seahawks fans are sure to love
He returns while others leave. He is ready for what this offseason brings, however, and excited about what next season will be like, too.
As far as the free agents, such as safety Coby Bryant, who left, the defensive coordinator feels the team has enough depth to replace them. Seattle wasn't built to be good only in 2025, of course, but well beyond. Last season is hopefully just the beginning of long-term success in the Pacific Northwest.
Durde told talkSPORT, "Someone will present himself, and someone will take the opportunity that has been vacated. That's the beauty of this league. That's what I love about it. I think real competitors want to compete...The more good players we bring in to compete for (those spots), the more excited I get because that's when you see the best of people."
While Aden Durde was speaking completely about Seattle Seahawks players who must step up to keep up the same level as those who left, such as Bryant, cornerback Riq Woolen, and edge rusher Boye Mafe, the defensive coordinator could have been speaking about himself as well.
Soon, he will likely be competing again with other hopeful head coaching candidates for open vacancies. Eventually, he will get one, as he is worthy of doing so. Maybe he didn't grow up in an American football-loving nation, but no one would know that based on his ability to lead a defense.
He has nowhere else to go but up, and clearly that won't be for the Seahawks, as Macdonald isn't going anywhere. No matter where Durde goes, however, Seattle fans will likely feel just fine about hoping he does well.