One of the biggest compliments an NFL team can receive is when a high-ranking assistant is hired away to become someone else's head coach. That doesn't happen often with the Dallas Cowboys, largely because they haven't produced many worthy candidates over the years.
That trend should get bucked sometime in the near future, however, as offensive coordinator Klayton Adams and defensive coordinator Christian Parker are two of the most promising young coaches in the league.
Adams and Parker are widely viewed as future head coaches, leaving Cowboys fans bracing for their inevitable departures.
While Parker only just became a DC, Adams is fresh off a banner first year as Dallas' OC, and he's taken a notable step toward entering the HC conversations, as he will take part in the NFL's accelerator program this week in Orlando, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported.
Dallas Cowboys fans should appreciate OC Klayton Adams while they can
The accelerator program was created with the "intention of increasing diversity in leadership roles," but has shifted to creating pathways for budding coaches and executives who may be nearing a promotion. If you needed confirmation that Adams is considered HC material, there it is.
A former offensive line coach for the Colts and Cardinals, Adams' first season as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator was a resounding success.
While Brian Schottenheimer called the plays, Adams completely reshaped Dallas’ rushing attack and blocking schemes, which had lacked innovation under former head coach Mike McCarthy. The offensive line played faster -- with purpose -- and Dallas’ running backs, namely Javonte Williams, were more decisive, trusting what developed in front of them.
The results speak for themselves, as the Cowboys ranked sixth in yards per carry (4.6), eighth in rushing EPA (-.008), seventh in rushing success rate (44.0 percent), and ninth in rushing yards (2,136), per SÅ«mer Sports. In 2024, they finished 27th in YPC (4.0), 26th in rushing EPA (-.128), 14th in success rate (40.3 percent), and 27th in rushing yards (1,705).
In other words, Dallas jumped from a bottom-third rushing attack to one of the better running offenses in football in one offseason; it was a transformation. That's the Klayton Adams effect, and the league has taken note.
Sure, the Cowboys added Tyler Booker in the first round of the 2025 draft, but they also returned four starters. It's not like the offensive line underwent an overhaul, and Javonte Williams, while better than previous RBs Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, signed for $3 million last offseason.
That’s not to diminish Booker and Williams’ impact, but Adams also turned the Cardinals into a formidable rushing team without star talent.
It’s unclear how much the accelerator program will boost Adams’ head coaching chances, but the way things are trending, it feels like a matter of when, not if. The Cowboys will be hoping they're spared next offseason and don't have to think about Adams leaving until 2028.
Add us as a preferred source on Google