Falcons add Jones, Durde to coaching staff

Former Georgia player and longtime NFL assistant coach Travis Jones was added to the Falcons coaching staff on Monday.

Jones, 45, had “mutually agreed” to part ways with Seattle after five seasons and was named the Falcons assistant defensive line coach. He replaces Jess Simpson, who left for the college ranks to become Miami’s defensive coordinator for coach Mark Richt.

Also, Aden Durde, was named a defensive quality control coach.

Jones joined the Seahawks in 2013 and worked under Falcons coach Dan Quinn for two seasons.

Before Seattle, he spent five seasons as an assistant defensive line coach for the Saints. He started his NFL coaching career with the Miami Dolphins, from 2005-07.

Jones started his career as a graduate assistant/defensive line at Georgia in 1997.

He later coached at Appalachian State (1998-00), Kansas (2001-02) and LSU (2003-04).

After starring at Wilkinson County, Jones played four seasons for the Bulldogs as a defensive lineman and was a team captain as a senior.

Jones is Falcons linebacker J’Terius Jones’ uncle.

Durde joins the Falcons after serving as the head of football development at NFLUK, where he helped guide the International Player Pathway program. He worked with former Falcons defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora.

Prior to his work with NFLUK, Durde spent training camp with the Falcons as part of the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship in 2016.

He also worked as a coaching intern with Dallas Cowboys during training camp in 2014.