Cowboys block Commanders' request to interview TE coach Lunda Wells

That’s a no, Commanders. The Cowboys won’t allow Washington to possibly pilfer their tight ends coach after the long-time rival hired two other top assistants.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Dallas didn’t give its permission for the Commanders to interview Lunda Wells. Washington wanted to talk to Wells about becoming their new offensive line coach.

Wells, who will be 41 on Sunday, currently is with his second NFC East team. He jumped from LSU to the New York Giants back in 2012. While there, he worked with tight ends and the offensive line. Lundy joined the Cowboys in 2020 when Jerry Jones hired head coach Mike McCarthy. Wells already had experience with the Cowboys. Back in 2010, he worked as a training camp intern under then offensive line coach Hudson Houck.

The Commanders hired now former Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach earlier this month. Quinn brought Joe Whitt Jr with him to Washington. Quinn also hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury to be the Commanders new offensive coordinator.

Meanwhile, owner Jerry Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy are busy trying to find Quinn’s replacement. So far, they’re interviewing very experienced NFL candidates.

Rex Ryan, the former head coach of both the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, interviewed with the Cowboys this week. After he and the Bills parted ways in 2016, Ryan has worked as an NFL analyst for ESPN. However, he’s toyed with the idea of getting back on the sidelines. He interviewed to be the Broncos defensive coordinator in 2023 before Denver hired Vance Joseph. Ryan’s twin brother, Rob, worked as the Cowboys defensive coordinator 13 years ago.

Plus, Dallas has spoken with former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. Like Rex Ryan, Zimmer is known as a great defensive mind. However, he last coached in the NFL in 2021. Zimmer has distinct ties to the Cowboys. He joined the Dallas staff in 1994 under then coach Barry Switzer. His career in blue and silver lasted through 2007. By that time, he’d worked with four Dallas head coaches. He and McCarthy have a good relationship. The two faced off against each other when both were head coaches in the NFC North.

There’s another head coach in the defensive coordinator picture. The Cowboys also talked to Ron Rivera, the former Commanders head coach. Current defensive line coach Aden Durde is an internal candidate for the job.