The Green Bay Packers have wasted no time in trying to find a new defensive coordinator. It was announced earlier this week that Joe Barry, who had been the Packers defensive coordinator since 2021, was being fired. The decision came after yet another disappointing season from the defense, which boasts eight former first round picks and other high-level talent.
The first person who was reportedly interviewed to fill the position vacated by Barry was former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. Barry worked under Staley in 2020 when the latter was the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. Hiring Staley would ensure that Green Bay’s defensive scheme would remain relatively the same.
Earlier on Friday, it was also announced that the Packers had requested permission to interview Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich. The New York Giants have already interviewed Babich for their defensive coordinator opening. Babich has been with the Bills since 2017 and has helped elevate the linebacker unit to be among the best in the NFL.
In addition to Staley and Babich, it has also been reported that Green Bay has asked the Dallas Cowboys for permission to interview one of their defensive coaches. Not Al Harris, the former Packers cornerback who serves as the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach, though, as many fans would have hoped.
The Green Bay Packers Want to Interview Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line Coach Aden Durde
If a football fan has not heard of Aden Durde, they are going to learn the name pretty soon. The Packers are not the only team that has requested to interview him for a vacant defensive coordinator position, according to Todd Archer of ESPN:
Green Bay, the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta have sought permission to speak to Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde, per multiple sources. He has been with the team since 2021, having spent 5 years with Dan Quinn in Atlanta, where he also worked with new coach Raheem Morris.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 26, 2024
As seen in the post above, the Rams and Falcons have also requested to interview Durde. His strong ties to Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and how much the defensive lines in Dallas have thrived under his tutelage have made him somewhat of a hot commodity.
Who Is Aden Durde?
Aden Durde has had quite the journey to becoming a NFL coach. Unlike most coaches on the professional level, he was born and raised in Europe, Middlesex, England, to be exact. Durde played professionally in the United Kingdom, spending time with the London Olympians and Scottish Claymores. He also played for the Hamburg Sea Devils in Germany.
In addition to his professional play in Europe, Durde also spent time in training camps with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Durde was also the defensive coordinator for the London Olympians, a job that helped him land a role as a defensive quality control coach under Dan Quinn when he was the head coach of the Falcons. During his five seasons with Atlanta, Durde held roles of quality control coach and outside linebackers coach.
Durde was hired by the Cowboys in 2021 as their defensive line coach.