Game to kickoff at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 27 from the Ford Center at the Star, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and will be televised on NFL Network
NEW YORK –– Jan. 16, 2026 –– The National Football League announced today the head coaches for the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl, Lunda Wells of the Dallas Cowboys and Marquice Williams of the Atlanta Falcons.
“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 the tight ends coach of the Dallas Cowboys (2020-25). Prior to his time in Dallas, he spent seven seasons with the New York Giants (2012-2019) as an offensive quality control and assistant offensive line coach. Wells, who also spent four seasons at LSU (2008-11), played offensive line for four seasons (2002-05) at Southern University.
Williams, who was also a head coach in the East-West Shrine Bowl last year, recently completed his fifth season as the Falcons special team’s coordinator (2021-25) after serving two seasons as assistant special teams coach with the Detroit Lions. Williams participated in the Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and Quarterback Coaching Summit in 2023, a program designed for the most promising front office personnel and coaches on the offensive side of the ball.
“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.”
At the conclusion of the NFL regular season, teams nominated deserving assistant coaches who were reviewed by a panel that includes NFL Football Operations staff, East-West Shrine Bowl leadership, members of the NFL’s General Managers Advisory Committee and the Fritz Pollard Alliance.
Coaches nominated by NFL clubs must be active assistant coaches who display extraordinary teaching and communication skills and are recognized for their integrity and commitment to excellence in the coaching profession. The coaches must be accomplished at developing and preparing players to compete in the NFL.
The 101st East-West Shrine Bowl, which features some of college football’s best prospects, will kick off at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) on Tuesday, January 27 from the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and will be televised on NFL Network.
For more than 100 years, some of football’s greatest players and coaches have contributed to the tradition of the East-West Shrine Bowl, the nation’s first college all-star football game. Created by the Shriners in 1925, the game is driven by the desire to support Shriners Hospitals for Children in its mission to help children in need of expert medical care. Participating players make an annual visit to the local Shriners Hospital, visiting children and staff in an experience that they will truly never forget.
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