Sources – Bears request to interview Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy

FRISCO, Texas – Jerry Jones’ time frame on whether to keep Mike McCarthy as Dallas Cowboys coach could be affected by the Chicago Bears.

Multiple sources said the Bears have sought permission to speak with McCarthy about their head coaching position. A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Cowboys have yet to respond to the request.

McCarthy’s contract expires Wednesday, but the Cowboys have exclusive negotiating rights through Jan. 14. After that, McCarthy would become a coaching free agent.

After Sunday’s 23-19 season-ending loss to the Washington Commanders, Jones continued to praise McCarthy but was noncommittal about the coach’s future in Dallas.

McCarthy said he “absolutely” wants to return to the Cowboys, where he has posted a 49-35 regular-season record but is just 1-3 in the playoffs. The Cowboys finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020, McCarthy’s first season.

Jones was asked if he would allow a team to talk to McCarthy if they sought permission, and the owner and general manager said he just did something similar with running back Ezekiel Elliott, releasing him in the last week of the season to get the chance to join a playoff team.

“I didn’t want any coach that didn’t want to be here,” Jones said.

Jones and McCarthy are due to meet this week about the direction of the franchise. When asked if McCarthy could return to coach but not call plays as he has the past two seasons, Jones said, “anything is possible.”

McCarthy met with the team Monday morning and gave no indication of his future. He thanked the players for their hard work and went through the end-of-season checklist, meeting with the medical staff and their position coaches.

“I’m in the wind just like you guys,” said Micah Parsons.

McCarthy’s intention Sunday was to stay in Dallas. It is not known if Chicago’s interest will change anything.

“I’ve invested a lot here. And the Cowboys have invested a lot in me,” McCarthy said Sunday. “And then there’s a personal side to all of these decisions. They’re all pointing in the right direction. I think anytime you invest your time, your energy, your faith, the connection you have, the relationships that are in place here, the understanding of what organization can do and is willing to do, those are all positive attributes that you take into account, I’m a builder, I believe in developing young players at the end of the day, it’s about win, and you have to have the components in place for to get this where it needs to be, I think we have a very good foundation here.”

McCarthy’s 174 wins are 13th all-time in NFL history. He coached the Green Bay Packers from 2006-18, winning six NFC North titles and a victory in Super Bowl XLV.

He has a 19-7 record against the Bears in his career.

Coincidentally, one of the Cowboys’ opponents in 2025 is the Bears.

In addition to McCarthy, the Bears also reportedly requested to interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson during Detroit’s bye week. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears also requested interviews with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Interim head coach Thomas Brown will also receive a formal interview, according to Poles.