From 2021 to 2023, the Cowboys believed their defensive line coach would one day make an excellent NFL head coach candidate, and now he may be getting that chance.
Only it’s with another team.
Aden Durde will interview with the Cleveland Browns on Friday for their current head coach opening. The Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski earlier in the week. They are set to also interview Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Bengals OC Dan Pitcher, and both their current coordinators, Jim Schwartz and Tommy Rees. Ex-Baltimore HC John Harbaugh could also be in the mix as the process moves forward.
Durde has been the defensive coordinator for Seattle the past two seasons; that unit helped the Seahawks to a 10-7 record last year and a franchise-best 14-3 mark in 2025, good enough to win the NFC West crown and the top postseason seed in the conference.
Durde’s defense produced two Pro Bowlers last season and three this year, including former Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in his reunion with Durde.
The 46-year-old Durde was born in the U.K. and began playing American football in Europe. His first foray into coaching also came in London, but by 2014, he was interning with the Cowboys as part of a fellowship program. A long stint with Atlanta followed, where he served under then-head coach Dan Quinn. When Quinn was hired by the Cowboys to be the next defensive coordinator in 2021, he hired Durde to join him.
Durde proved to be popular with players, management, and fans alike… but also with opposing teams around the NFL. His name was being seriously considered for promotions as early as the middle of the 2022 season, with some even lobbying for him to take the coordinator reins in Dallas as Quinn’s time came to an end.
After participating in the NFL’s Coach Accelerator program in 2023, Durde spent one more season with the Cowboys before finally accepting the defensive coordinator job in Seattle prior to the 2024 season. He had also spoken with the Packers, Rams, and Falcons during that year’s hiring cycle and been part of the DC candidate pool in Dallas (though the Cowboys eventually went with Mike Zimmer).
Under Durde, the Seahawks defense placed in the top half of the league in both points and yards allowed as well as takeaways in 2024. In 2025, they improved to top-10 in yards allowed and takeaways and No. 1 in points allowed.
With the top seed in the postseason, Durde and Seattle have the wild-card weekend off and will face the NFC’s lowest remaining seed following the first round of playoff games.
Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Former Cowboys assistant to interview for Browns HC job
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
