Klayton Adams recently took on the offensive coordinator position with the Dallas Cowboys. In his first season, he’s already having a huge impact! Head coach Brian Schottenheimer signed Adams to a contract this past January. Since then, Adams has made a smooth transition to running the show with the offensive unit, placing an emphasis on his team’s rushing attack. At 42 years old, he already has more experience than most coaches his age. He has coached running backs, tight ends and offensive linemen.
Under Adams’ leadership, the Cowboys have become one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. Perhaps even more important, they’re producing an incredible 406.6 yards and 30.2 points per game over the first five weeks of the season. This stunning feat puts them in the company of some of the league’s best, as their rushing attack has looked extra promising.
Adams’ running backs had quite the record-setting season! With the dynamic Javonte Williams paving the way, they’re on pace to finish with 1,519 rushing yards. The Cowboys have already posted seven rushing touchdowns, more than all of last season (6). This success was a testament to Adams’ impact on the team’s implementation of their running game.
On game days, Adams is based mostly out of the coaches’ booth. Once he transfers to the sideline, he’s kind of above the fray with regard to direct contact with players. This combination of experience gives him a unique perspective to study game play and adapt strategy without the pressure of 11-on-the-field, with sideline drama and politics. His collaboration with Schottenheimer has been crucial. They meet on Mondays and Tuesdays to review performance and strategize for upcoming games. This plan-making process involves them pitching their plans to the rest of the coaching staff to be challenged and refined.
Even though Schottenheimer is officially considered the playcaller, Adams has a lot of freedom to shape the overall strategy of the running game. He has the self-awareness to understand the need for basics to become part of his coaching DNA. “Again, really, the day-to-day stuff, it’s the fundamentals,” Adams stated. “It’s what they do in the classroom, not just teaching scheme, but the fundamentals.”
Even Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has lauded Adams’ impact on his team’s winning ways. “Klayton brings a sense of intensity and focus and grit to our offense that you really can’t quantify it,” Prescott remarked. He continued, Adams’ passion for the game and that of the coaching staff inspires the players.
Even with that success under their belts, Adams is determined to keep making things better. He admits that there is a lot of work left to do in order for the offense to be maximized. “When you take the litmus test and you just watch it, I just think there’s a lot of improvement that needs to be made for us to be operating on the level that we want to be operating on,” he said.
Adams has an interesting, varied coaching background. He was the Indianapolis Colts tight ends coach in 2016 and 2017, and most recently, he was the Arizona Cardinals line coach in the 2023-24 seasons. His deep positional experience allows him to deploy the best plan to maximize player development and performance.
Together, Schottenheimer and Adams have created an incredibly potent partnership. Despite their contrasting coaching styles, they’ve made the relationship work and developed synergy on the field. Schottenheimer called attention to Adams’ commitment and work ethic. “He is so easy to work with, and God he loves it,” Schottenheimer said. “He loves coaching O-line. He’s in there every chance he gets.”
Adams has demanded and been given respect from his players. Offensive lineman Terence Steele commented on his expertise in running strategies: “I think he’s a master in the run game, to be honest with you.” This feeling is indicative of the belief that Adams breeds in his players as they function collectively to develop their craft.
Adams is doing a deep-dive as he embarks on his first season as the offensive coordinator for the storied Cowboys of Broken Arrow. Through it all, he is committed to developing a culture of diligence and responsibility on his squad. “I think the guys are playing hard for sure,” he observed, indicating that his players are fully invested in their roles.
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