Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells has a new job, though it’s just a temporary position that will wrap up in a matter of weeks.
It could, however, pay big dividends for the Cowboys down the road.
The 42-year-old Wells has been named head coach of the West team for the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. The collegiate all-star game is set to be played Jan. 27 at Ford Center at The Star, just steps from Wells’s office at Cowboys headquarters.
On staff with the Cowboys since 2020, Wells got a look from the Washington Commanders just last week for their offensive coordinator position. Wells was one of five interview candidates for that job; Dan Quinn and the Commanders eventually hired David Blough from within the organization.
Of the two major college all-star games played at the conclusion of each season, the Shrine Bowl tends to showcase lesser-known players as opposed to the traditionally higher-profile Senior Bowl. Shrine Bowl players often appeal to NFL teams in the draft’s middle to late rounds, with the game frequently producing the true hidden gems of any given draft class. Alums include legendary names like Larry Allen, Tom Brady, Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka, John Elway, Eddie George, La’Roi Glover, Bob Lilly, Art Monk, Walter Payton, Roger Staubach, Lawrence Taylor, Zach Thomas, Mike Vrabel, Randy White, and Andrew Whitworth.
The 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl West Team Head Coach
💫 Lunda Wells (@Lundawells), @dallascowboys#ShrineBowlWHOSNEXTpic.twitter.com/vYkks2g439
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) January 15, 2026
Shrine Bowl coaches are selected from NFL teams that do not advance to the playoffs; the slots can be a key developmental opportunity (albeit short-term) for assistants hoping to advance up the coaching ranks.
Wells’s squad will include standouts like quarterbacks Haynes King (Georgia Tech) and Mark Gronowski (Iowa), running back Roman Hemby (Indiana), defensive linemen Albert Regis and Tyler Onyedim (both from Texas A&M), linebacker Jake Golday (Cincinnati), wide receiver Malik Benson (Oregon), and wide receiver/return specialist Kaden Wetjen (Iowa).
As the squad’s head coach for the practice sessions leading up to the game and the contest itself, Wells will get an up-close look at all of the West players, gaining valuable insight that could come into play as the Cowboys put their draft board together for April.
Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams has been tapped to coach the East team in this year’s Shrine Bowl.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys TE coach Lunda Wells to serve as HC in East-West Shrine Bowl
