Dallas Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells has agreed to a new deal to return next season under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Wells has been the Cowboys’ tight ends coach since 2020.

Wells recently interviewed with the Chicago Bears about a job opening but will ultimately remain in Dallas. Wells has been instrumental to tight end Jake Ferguson‘s success for the Cowboys.

Ferguson missed three games this season due to injury but still finished the 2024 campaign with 59 catches for 494 yards. In Ferguson’s absence, tight end Luke Schoonmaker made strides forward, notching 27 catches for 241 yards and a score.

Next season will be Lunda Wells’ first on the Cowboys without head coach Mike McCarthy leading the way. At a press conference on Monday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones explained the organization’s decision to part ways with McCarthy.

Jerry Jones explains decision to part ways with Mike McCarthy

“Mike McCarthy left some good stuff here. One of them was Brian,” Jones said. “Mike McCarthy is a hell of a coach. He left some good stuff here. It was time for a change. I’ve heard it criticized. We spent five days getting to come to that decision. We did come to that decision.

“One of the reasons we came to that decision is because there was this decision available to us as well — one of the reasons. Schotty has fantastic support among our players, key players, real support, and they’ve seen him when he was on top. They’ve seen him when it didn’t work out so well, that’s an advantage here. That’s a real advantage.”

McCarthy spent five seasons as the Cowboys’ head coach. However, after the Cowboys posted a 7-10 record and failed to reach the NFL Playoffs this season, the organization parted ways with McCarthy. In his five seasons with the Cowboys, he amassed a 49-35 record and a 1-3 mark in postseason play.

After speaking with several other candidates about the head coaching opening, the Cowboys ultimately hired internally, promoting offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach.

The Cowboys initially hired Schottenheimer as a consultant in 2022. However, he was promoted to offensive coordinator on Feb. 4, 2023. Now, Schottenheimer will take the final step on the staff ladder and have a chance to lead the Cowboys.

While Jones is thankful for what McCarthy accomplished with the Cowboys, he is excited to usher in the Brian Schottenheimer era.

“What we have is an opportunity to take some of the very best things that are here in place — Mike’s doing — some of those very best things, change some of that, add to it and be better for that,” Jones said.