Lunda Wells joins the Cowboys as tight ends coach for the 2020 season after spending eight years with the N.Y. Giants, the last two seasons in the same role.
From 2018-19, Wells worked with a young and talented tight end in Evan Engram, who caught 88 passes and six touchdowns over two seasons, despite missing 13 games due to injury. Before assuming his position as tight ends coach, Wells spent five seasons as the team's assistant offensive line coach, first under Pat Flaherty and then Mike Solari. In 2017 Wells helped tutor a line that was constantly in transition. The Giants used 10 different starting combinations, their highest single-season total since the 1970 merger.
In 2016 the Giants allowed 22.0 sacks - the third-lowest total in the league. New York scored 420 points in 2015, the fifth-highest total in franchise history, and its 5,956 net yards were the third-highest total in team history. With the line providing consistent protection, Eli Manning set a single-season franchise record with 387 completions, and his 4,432 yards and 35 touchdown passes were both the second-highest totals in Giants history.
Wells joined the Giants in 2012 as an offensive quality control coach. He also helped coach the wide receivers that season. In 2012 the Giants scored 429 points, the second-highest total in franchise history.
Before joining the Giants staff, Wells spent four seasons at Louisiana State University. From 2008-09, he was an offensive line assistant, and in his final two years at LSU, Wells was an assistant to the head coach and an assistant on special teams. In 2010 Wells was an offensive line intern in the Dallas Cowboys training camp, where he worked alongside Hudson Houck.
Wells was the offensive line coach/run game coordinator/head strength and conditioning coach at Scotlandville High School in Baton Rouge, La. from 2006-07. He coached the offensive line and devised the offensive run game plans.
An offensive lineman, Wells played in the Arena Football League for the Grand Rapids Rampage, South Georgia Rampage and Louisiana Swashbucklers following a four-year career at guard at Southern University (2002-05). He was voted to the All-Southwestern Athletic Conference first team in 2002 and 2005, and Southern won the 2003 SWAC championship. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and, in 2007, a master's degree in criminal justice at Southern.
Wells is a native of Baker, La., just outside Baton Rouge. He was a Class 5A first-team all-state offensive line selection at Baker High School.
He and his wife, Tiffany, have two daughters, Adanya Neema and Zalika Nia.
