By Tiffany Williams –
FRISCO, Texas — The NFL named Dallas Cowboys assistant Lunda Wells and Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams as the head coaches for the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl, placing two experienced NFL assistants in charge of one of college football’s premier showcase events.
The league announced the appointments as the all-star game prepares to spotlight top draft prospects while also serving as a high-visibility evaluation opportunity for rising NFL coaches. Wells and Williams will lead players and staffs during a week that blends football scouting with the Shriners Hospitals for Children mission.
“Coaches Marquice Williams and Lunda Wells have the opportunity to not only evaluate top athlete prospects, but also to showcase their skills in leading players and coaching staffs in this high-profile game,” said Troy Vincent Sr., NFL executive vice president of football operations. “This is an important evaluation week for prospects as well as for coaches as they pursue their professional and personal goals. The game also shows the humanitarian side of football as participants greatly encourage the children and families at the Shriners Hospitals.”
Wells recently completed his sixth season as tight ends coach with the Cowboys, a role he has held since 2020. Before joining Dallas, he spent seven seasons with the New York Giants as an offensive quality control coach and assistant offensive line coach. His coaching résumé also includes four seasons at LSU, and he played offensive line at Southern University.
Williams returns to the Shrine Bowl after serving as a head coach in the game last year. He just completed his fifth season as the Falcons’ special teams coordinator, following two seasons as an assistant special teams coach with the Detroit Lions. Williams has also taken part in the Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and the Quarterback Coaching Summit, programs designed to develop future NFL leaders.
“We are extremely excited to have two experienced and respected NFL coaches leading our East-West Shrine Bowl,” said Bob Roller, vice president of sports for Shriners Hospitals for Children. “Marquice Williams is a returning head coach for us, and we love his passion for our game and the mission of Shriners Children’s. Having Coach Lunda Wells from the Cowboys is great for our game to attract more fans and interest in the Dallas metroplex.”
NFL teams nominated assistant coaches following the regular season, with selections reviewed by a panel that included NFL Football Operations staff, East-West Shrine Bowl leadership, members of the NFL’s General Managers Advisory Committee and the Fritz Pollard Alliance. Nominees must be active assistants recognized for teaching ability, communication skills, integrity and player development.
The 101st East-West Shrine Bowl will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, the Cowboys’ headquarters, and will air on NFL Network.
Founded in 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl is the nation’s first college all-star football game and has been played for more than a century. Beyond scouting, the event is tied directly to Shriners Hospitals for Children, with players visiting local hospitals as part of a tradition built around supporting children in need of specialized medical care.