The last two offensive coordinators for the Dallas Cowboys have gone on to become first-time head coaches. It started with Kellen Moore, who was hired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, and then Brian Schottenheimer, who was promoted as the Cowboys’ tenth head coach in team history.
If the offense keeps repeating the same success it had in 2025, it’s only a matter of time before Klayton Adams starts his path to one day leaving Dallas as a head coach elsewhere. He was already requested to interview
with the Philadelphia Eagles to be their offensive play-caller in the offseason. Schottenheimer politely told Nick Siriani to look elsewhere.
Back in May, the NFL picked Adams to be one of 34 coaches and executives who would be attending the program during the owners meetings in Orlando, Florida.
Adams, along with Schottenheimer, was able to build an offense that not only maximized Dak Prescott but got the best out of George Pickens, who was labeled as a castoff and malcontent. Not to mention Javonte Williams had a banner year and looked great in Dallas’ offensive gameplan.
If Adams departs sooner rather than later, Schottenheimer will be the offense’s play-caller, as long as he remains the head coach, so continuity will continue. That also means if anyone on this list lacks play-calling experience or was not the best when given the chance to call plays, that won’t play a huge factor in keeping them off the list.
If Adams does get a chance somewhere else in the near future, Dallas won’t have to look very far to find their next OC. The team already has some intriguing in-house choices. Here are four names to look out for.
Honorable mention: Junior Adams, WR Coach
Junior Adams is still green to the NFL after spending his coaching career at the collegiate level, but that doesn’t mean he lacks experience as an OC. When he was with Oregon before coming to Dallas, Adams was the wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator. His first gig as an OC came in 2017 with Western Kentucky where the passing attack ranked seventh nationally in pass yards per game (335) that season.
Adams’ claim to fame has been the way he’s developed wide receiver talent at the college level and how well the players have transitioned to the pros. He’s worked closely with Puka Nacua, Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson. Adams’ most notable pupal is Cooper Kupp who worked together at Eastern Washington.
The sample size is just one year in Dallas, but Adams was able to get the best out of George Pickens and keep him focused for the most part. That’s not an easy task. Adams was also able to coach Ryan Flournoy from a cut player after training camp into his elevated role as WR3 heading into the season.
If the Cowboys have plans to keep Pickens around long-term, it might help keeping the position coach who’s gotten the most out of him around. Going from a WR coach to coordinator would be a jump, but if Adams keeps proving himself, he should be mentioned as a possibility.
4. Conor Riley, OL Coach
Conor Riley’s candidacy as a future offensive coordinator in Dallas comes down to how well the offensive line plays this year. Offensive line play has been elite for the most part over the last decade in Dallas. Making sure Riley keeps up with that trend would go a long way.
Luckily he has Tyler Smith as the anchor of his unit to help lead the way. Tyler Booker looked really good as a rookie and is set to be a staple of the offensive line for the next decade if he continues his progress. At center, Cooper Beebe benefits from his prior relationship with Riley going back to their time together at Kansas State. From year one to two, Beebe got better, but missed some time due to injury.
The question marks remain at left tackle and right tackle. If Riley can get things going for Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele at tackle spots, it would be a blessing.
While at Kansas State, Riley was predominantly the offensive line coach but spent the 2024 season as offensive coordinator. In his sole season at the helm of the Wildcat offense, Kansas State averaged 30.8 points per game. That ranked second in the Big-12 and 11th in FBS.
The benefit of having a former offensive line coach as offensive coordinator is their knowledge of how to run the football. That’s why Klayton Adams was such a great hire coming over to Dallas and a great pairing for Schottenheimer. Riley might be the perfect successor for Adams if Dallas wants to keep things the same going from one o-line coach to another designing the offense.
3. Ken Dorsey, Pass Game Specialist
Ken Dorsey is the only one listed that has prior experience as an offensive coordinator at the NFL level. Prior to joining the Cowboys last year, Dorsey spent the 2024 season as the OC of the Cleveland Browns. That year might have to go as a mulligan for Dorsey considering he lost his starting quarterback to an Achilles injury early in the season, but also because it’s the Cleveland Browns.
Dorsey should be judged more off of what he was able to do with the Buffalo Bills. The Cowboys pass game specialist spent one and a half seasons in upstate New York (2022-2023). The Bills offense flourished under Dorsey which finished second in the NFL in total offense (397.6 yards-per-game) and points-per-game (28.4).
After an up and down rookie season, Josh Allen started becoming the player he is now when Dorsey came to Buffalo as his quarterbacks coach from 2019 to 2021. All of the praise can’t fall on Dorsey as Brian Daboll had a lot to do with Allen’s success too, but it can’t be overlooked.
Fast forward to Dorsey’s first season in Dallas, the offense and the strides it made with new pieces and voices in place was the only bright part of a bad season overall. Dorsey might be the name that gets fans least excited on this list, but you can’t ignore the fact having the veteran experience as an NFL offensive coordinator goes a long way. Working well with a pass first offense might make the Cowboys pass game specialist an ideal candidate to maximize Prescott, Lamb, Pickens, and Flournoy for the future.
2. Steve Shimko, QB Coach
Steve Shimko might be the most intriguing name on the list. Shimko first came to Dallas in 2024 under Mike McCarthy as an offensive quality coach, but was elevated to quarterbacks coach with Schottenheimer took over as head coach.
Shimko is one of two names on this list who were hold-overs from the McCarthy tenure. It isn’t the first time Schotty and Shimko have worked together. Both were on the same staff at a couple stops with the Georgia Bulldogs in 2015 and with Seattle Seahawks from 2018 to 2019. It’s safe to say Schotty enjoys working with Shimko.
Despite not having any coordinator experience in the NFL, Shimko is the only name on the list who has the most time as an OC period. Prior to joining the Cowboys he was the offensive coordinator at Boston College for four seasons. In 2023, Shimko had the nation’s 13th ranked rushing offense and averaged 24.8 points per game, which was the highest mark by any Boston College squad since 2019.
In his first season as Dallas’ QB coach, Dak Prescott had one of the most productive seasons despite the team having a losing record. He threw for the second most passing yards of his career, 30 touchdowns, ten interceptions, and ended the year with a Pro Bowl nomination.
The reason why Shimko ranks higher than the names below him is based off his history with Schottenheimer and working closely with Prescott. Both of those things matter if they want to keep the train rolling if Adams ever leaves. Schottenheimer has shown a willingness to hire coaches outside of his coaching tree, but this might be a hire he’d be willing to show some football nepotism.
1. Lunda Wells, TE Coach
There might not have been a hotter name around the Cowboys coaching staff when the season ended than Lunda Wells. While Klayton Adams got the request to interview with the Eagles, Wells actually went to go interview with three NFL teams for their vacant OC position—the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders, and New York Jets.
The Steelers and Commanders already have intimate knowledge of what Wells would bring to the table as a coordinator. Mike McCarthy and Dan Quinn both got to work with Wells during their stints in Dallas. With that level of buzz, it’s similar to Adams; it’s only a matter of when, not if Wells becomes an offensive coordinator for a team.
Wells was the other coach who Schottenheimer decided to keep on staff when McCarthy was let go. But it’s not the first time Wells has been a hold over on a coaching staff. He’s been with the Cowboys since 2018 as their tight ends coach. That means he’s worked under Jason Garrett, McCarthy and now Schotty. Being able to stick around in one spot for that long, despite the change, is not only a credit to what his peers have thought of him but how the organization feels about what Wells.
Since coming to the Cowboys, Wells has helped mold a couple fourth-round picks in Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson into talented players, the latter of the two earning two Pro Bowl nominations. Even Blake Jarwin and Peyton Hendershot had their moments as undrafted free agents with Dallas’ offense. Now Brevyn Spann-Ford might be the next name to join the list.
Before joining the Cowboys, Wells spent the first part of his professional career in New York with the Giants as an assistant offensive line coach. Pairing that with his knowledge of the tight end position should give him a well rounded look at how he could build a solid offensive rushing attack. This well deserved promotion for Wells might come at the perfect time as Dallas might not want him to leave the building after spending the last nine seasons with the Cowboys.
