FRISCO, Texas — Lunda Wells has seen plenty of change in his time with the Dallas Cowboys, and as the organization parted ways with Mike McCarthy and began the process of cleaning house, it was again Wells who stood as a lighthouse — declining offers from other ships and taking the Cowboys up on theirs to stay put as the tight ends coach going forward.
One of the biggest reasons for Wells' decision to remain in Dallas is his "profound love" of an organization he joined back in 2020, one that has certainly enjoyed his ability to develop players, e.g., Jake Ferguson from a fourth-round pick to a Pro Bowl tight end.
To put it in Kobe terms, as Wells views it, the job's not done.
"You always want consistency and you always look to develop your room," said Wells in his first interview after signing his shiny new contract extension. "You know, I like to always say that I coach the room from the back end of the room, because the starters get the majority of the reps but then, on that back end, you've gotta make sure that you're very intentional with them so that they develop, so that then when one goes down, the product looks the same or better.
"I think that's always been the model for me as a coach and I pride myself on making sure the back end of the room is ready to go and play, because they all are a part of the team. They all have redeeming qualities. Some have more than others, but they also all also have deficiencies so, as a coach, you really have to do a great job of being intentional with the deficiencies of all you guys."
That mindset and style has paid off like gangbusters for Wells.
But for the second time in only two seasons, he's seeing a lot of shuffling in the offensive coaching staff around him. With the exception of Brian Schottenheimer still present, albeit as head coach this time around, Wells is one of only three coaches on that side of the ball who were employed by the Cowboys in any capacity in 2024.
And on the defensive side, there is only one, namely Darian Thompson.
This tectonic shift in the regime does create plenty of opportunities for a refreshed level of collaboration and idea creation, however, and that's exactly how Wells is approaching it.
"Everybody's sharing their different experiences," he said. "I think collaboratively, that's where you really make the big jump um with a new style. … Continuity is always good, but I don't think that it's the fix for everything. Seeing familiar faces helps, but the guys that [Schottenheimer] brought onto the staff —bringing a different flavor — I think between the continuity and the newness, we have the right direction."
What exactly might that style and direction look like going forward, pray tell?
"One of the biggest things that we're really focusing on offensively is being more physical," said Wells, echoing the edict of violence and physicality delivered earlier in the afternoon by offensive coordinator Klayton Adams and offensive line coach Conor Riley, but also by every single defensive coach that stepped in front of a microphone on Tuesday.
"Really, on both sides of the ball, as a team, being physical and dominating a line of scrimmage is gonna be a big focal point for us this offseason and going forward," Wells added." That will be one of the biggest themes going into this deal."
Wells commands one of the only rooms on the entire roster that isn't set to see any sort of upheaval this offseason, seeing as there are no looming free agents within the tight ends room, and he's anxious to get back to work, but with a different overall nautical chart.
And, hopefully, with Wells serving as a lighthouse, it's one that can steer the Cowboys away from the perennial iceberg and through the playoffs.
