Cowboys TE coach Lunda Wells named West head coach for 101st East-West Shrine Bowl

The Dallas Cowboys will be front and center at the 101st edition of the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells has been selected to serve as the West team’s head coach for the all-star showcase on Jan. 27, giving Dallas a strong presence at one of the biggest pre-draft events of the year.

Joining Wells, will be Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, who recently interviewed for the teams vacant defensive coordinator position, and will serve in that role for the game.

For the Cowboys, Wells and Whitecotton’s involvement offers a unique advantage, a chance to work closely with prospects throughout the week, build relationships, and get an early feel for how certain players learn, compete, and carry themselves in an NFL environment.

Dallas has dipped into the Shrine Bowl pool recently, selecting TE Luke Schoonmaker (2023) and WR Ryan Flournoy (2024) after both participated in the event.

Adding in Cowboys history to the week, former Dallas fullback Daryl “Moose” Johnston, who played in the event in 1989, is set to be inducted into the East-West Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame in early 2026.

“It was a huge confidence boost, it was one of the bigger opportunities I had coming out of Syracuse and getting into the NFL … I’ll always be indebted to the opportunity that was provided to me to be part of the East-West Shrine game,” Johnston said. “The questions NFL scouts had about me being a fullback, I was given a platform and a game to ease those concerns, and it was a tremendous experience.”

The East-West Shrine Bowl is one of the longest-running college football all-star games in the country, bringing together top draft-eligible seniors for a week of practices, meetings, and game action in front of NFL scouts, coaches, and front-office decision-makers. It’s a major evaluation stop on the road to the NFL Draft, and it also supports the mission of Shriners Children’s, with events centered around giving back and community impact.

“I think it’s what makes it such a special game, because it’s not just about football, it’s about these amazing young kids who are fighting things on a daily basis,” Johnston said. “I think it’s been a huge connection between those two platforms; it really ties it all together.”

The 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, kicking off at 6 p.m. CT and airing on NFL Network.

Here is a look at the players for the West roster.