Commanders request permission to interview Cowboys assistant for OC job

The Cowboys haven't made any moves toward filling the open spot on their coaching staff, but an NFC East rival isn't wasting any time. And they're looking to a Cowboys assistant as a possibility.

The Washington Commanders have requested permission from the Cowboys to interview tight ends coach Lunda Wells to be their next offensive coordinator. The Commanders parted ways with OC Kliff Kingsbury earlier in the week.

Wells has been on the Cowboys staff since 2020, when Mike McCarthy hired him upon being named head coach. Wells had previously occupied that same role for the Giants and had been New York's assistant offensive line coach prior to that.

The Commanders have requested permission to speak with Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells regarding their offensive coordinator opening, according to multiple sources. Wells has been big part of game planning in his 6 seasons. He was on staff with Dan Quinn for 3 years.— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 8, 2026

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has long been a fan of the 42-year-old Wells, the two having worked together for Quinn's three seasons in Dallas. Quinn asked to interview Wells just after taking the Commanders job, in early 2024, to be his tight ends coach in Washington.

The Cowboys exercised their right to deny that request, since the job would have been a lateral move. One year later, in January 2025, they signed Wells to a contract extension after the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer.

The Cowboys have reportedly granted this most recent request for Wells to explore a promotion to the Commanders OC position.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys TE coach Lunda Wells to interview for Commanders OC job