Aden Durde Leads Seahawks Defense Into Super Bowl LX

The countdown to Super Bowl LX is officially on, and the NFL coaching carousel is spinning with fresh faces and fascinating stories. As the Arizona Cardinals prepare to usher in a new era under head coach Mike LaFleur, the Seattle Seahawks are making headlines of their own—thanks in large part to Aden Durde, Britain’s trailblazing defensive coordinator, who is about to lead his unit into a Super Bowl showdown with the New England Patriots. This week, the league’s coaching ranks are buzzing with international flavor, career-defining opportunities, and the promise of history in the making.

Let’s start in the desert, where the Arizona Cardinals are expected to make a significant addition to their coaching staff. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Michael Ghobrial is set to become the team’s new special teams coordinator—a move that reunites him with LaFleur, the Cardinals’ newly appointed head coach. Ghobrial’s resume is nothing to sneeze at: he served as assistant special teams coach for the New York Jets from 2021 to 2023, overlapping with LaFleur, who was the Jets’ offensive coordinator during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Ghobrial then spent two seasons as the special teams coordinator for the New York Giants under head coach Brian Daboll. His coaching journey, which began in the college ranks in 2009, also includes a stint with the Detroit Lions in 2017 as part of the Bill Walsh diversity coaching fellowship.

LaFleur will be formally introduced to the Arizona media on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, marking the start of what Cardinals fans hope will be a transformative chapter. The expectation is that Ghobrial’s arrival will inject new energy and strategic prowess into a special teams unit that’s been searching for consistency. For the Cardinals, this isn’t just a routine hire—it’s a calculated move to blend LaFleur’s offensive mind with Ghobrial’s special teams expertise, both of whom have proven track records working together in high-pressure NFL environments.

But while the Cardinals are laying the groundwork for the future, the Seattle Seahawks are living in the moment—and what a moment it is. Aden Durde, who hails from Middlesex, England, is about to make history as the first Briton to serve as a full-time NFL coach in the Super Bowl. Durde’s journey is remarkable: from suiting up with the London Olympians and competing in NFL Europe with the Scottish Claymores and Hamburg Sea Devils, to earning practice squad spots with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs, his playing career laid a foundation for what would become a meteoric coaching rise.

Durde’s coaching path began in earnest as defensive coordinator for the London Warriors from 2011 to 2016. During that time, he also secured an internship with the Dallas Cowboys, which opened doors to the NFL. He joined the Atlanta Falcons as part of the Bill Walsh NFL diversity coaching fellowship, eventually landing a defensive quality control role in 2018 and then being promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2020. The Cowboys came calling again, this time hiring him as their defensive line coach—a role he held for three years in Arlington. His work in Texas did not go unnoticed.

When Mike Macdonald, renowned for his defensive acumen with the Baltimore Ravens, took the reins in Seattle in 2024, he tapped Durde to be his defensive coordinator. Talk about trust! Two years later, the Seahawks boast the NFL’s top scoring defense, allowing a stingy 17.2 points per game over the 2025 regular season. That defensive dominance was on full display in the NFC Championship, where Seattle edged out their division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, 31-27, punching their ticket to the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 2015.

The Seahawks’ opponent? The New England Patriots, the very team that broke Seattle hearts in Super Bowl XLIX with Malcolm Butler’s unforgettable last-play interception. The rematch is set for Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. For UK fans, kickoff is a late one—11:30 p.m. GMT—but the anticipation couldn’t be higher. Channel 5 will broadcast the game free to air, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports NFL.

Durde’s impact in Seattle has been nothing short of extraordinary. Not only has he helped construct a defense that can stifle even the most potent offenses, but he’s also emerged as one of the NFL’s most intriguing coaching prospects. He’s already been interviewed for head coaching positions, including stints with the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, "there could be other teams that talk to him." Yet Durde remains grounded amid the speculation. "Right now, I’m having the time of my life," Durde told the BBC. "Like, honestly, if things happen, they happen. I feel like when you just go about your business, things change when they need to change." That kind of perspective, blended with ambition, has made him a respected leader in locker rooms on both sides of the Atlantic.

For the Seahawks, the coaching chemistry between Macdonald and Durde has been the secret sauce behind the team’s resurgence. Macdonald’s defensive vision has meshed perfectly with Durde’s player development skills and schematic creativity. The result? A unit that flies to the ball, creates turnovers, and consistently puts the Seahawks in position to win tight games. It’s no wonder the league’s brightest minds are watching Seattle’s defensive blueprint for clues.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ decision to bring in Ghobrial reflects a league-wide trend toward diversity and international experience in coaching hires. Ghobrial’s background—spanning college football, the NFL, and the Bill Walsh diversity coaching fellowship—mirrors the kind of global perspective that’s becoming increasingly valued in today’s NFL. As teams look for any edge in a hyper-competitive league, coaches who can draw on a wide range of experiences are in high demand.

As Super Bowl week unfolds, all eyes will be on Santa Clara, where the Seahawks’ defense, orchestrated by Durde, will try to slow down a Patriots offense that knows a thing or two about big-game moments. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the storylines are rich: a British coach on the sport’s grandest stage, a franchise seeking redemption, and a league that continues to evolve with each new coaching hire.

Back in Arizona, anticipation is building for LaFleur’s official introduction and Ghobrial’s first steps as special teams coordinator. The Cardinals are clearly betting that fresh faces and familiar partnerships will spark a turnaround. Whether it’s the promise of a new era in Phoenix or the thrill of a Super Bowl run in Seattle, one thing’s for certain: the NFL’s coaching landscape is more dynamic—and more international—than ever before.

With the Super Bowl just days away and coaching announcements on the horizon, the league’s next chapter is about to be written. Stay tuned for more twists, turns, and, perhaps, a few surprises as the action unfolds both on and off the field.