Junior Adams is entering his second season as the Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach.
In 2025 Adams guided a productive receiving corps. His first year with the Cowboys saw two 1,000-yard receivers - George Pickens (1,429) and CeeDee Lamb (1,077) - and three receivers record multiple 100-yard games for the first time since 2021. Pickens set career highs in yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) on his way to his first career Pro Bowl. Lamb recorded his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season along with his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod, joining Michael Irvin as the only players in franchise history with five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Before coming to Dallas, Adams spent three years as the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Oregon, where he developed key players such as Tez Johnson and Troy Franklin. In 2024 Johnson led the Ducks and ranked 14th in FBS with 83 receptions to go along with 898 yards and 10 touchdowns (tied for 11th in FBS). Two seasons ago, also under Adams, Franklin's 1,383 receiving yards were sixth in the nation. Under Adams, Oregon had the 13th-ranked passing attack in the country (279.5 yards-per-game) in 2024.
Prior to Oregon, Adams spent three seasons as the wide receivers coach at the University of Washington. Two of Adams' top recruits, Jalen McMillan (470 yards) and Rome Odunze (415) finished first and third on the team in receiving yards in 2021 while combining to catch seven touchdowns. He also developed several young receivers during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, including sophomore Puka Nacua, who was drafted by the LA Rams in 2023 and was the runner up AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Odunze was the ninth overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, and McMillan was a third round selection by Tampa Bay in 2024.
Adams' first experience as an offensive coordinator came at Western Kentucky, where he directed a high-flying passing attack that helped the Hilltoppers make the 2017 Cure Bowl. He coached six All-Conference USA players at Western Kentucky and mentored quarterback Mike White, who now plays for the Buffalo Bills and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2018 NFL Draft. In 2017 the Hilltoppers led C-USA and ranked seventh nationally in passing offense (335.0).
Adams took his first FBS job at Boise State and spent his first two years (2014-15) as wide receivers coach before his promotion to passing game coordinator in 2016. The Broncos went 10-3 in 2016, and under Adams, Boise State led the Mountain West in passing offense (298.3 yards-per-game).
As the wide receivers coach at Eastern Washington (2009-13), Adams was a key figure in the development of Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. In 2013 Kupp won the Jerry Rice Award after leading the nation with 1,691 receiving yards, the fourth-most in FCS history. He became the second freshman wide receiver since 1990 to earn first-team FCS All-America honors (Randy Moss, 1996).
Before moving back to the Pacific Northwest, Adams coached running backs at Chattanooga in 2008 and wide receivers at Prosser, Wash., High School in 2007. While at Prosser High, Adams worked under Tom Moore, the father of current New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore, and helped Prosser to a Class 2A WIAA state title.
Adams began his coaching career as the wide receivers and kick returners coach at his alma mater, Montana State.
Adams' collegiate playing career began as a wide receiver at Oregon State before transferring to Montana State. He still ranks in the top-10 in Montana State history in terms of receiving yards (1,635), despite playing for the Bobcats for only two seasons. He earned honorable mention All-America and first-team All-Big Sky in 2002.
Adams was born and raised in Fremont, Calif., and he graduated from Montana State with a degree in sociology.
