NFL

Bears Coaching Search: Cowboys Deny Chicago’s Request To Interview Mike McCarthy

Dan Girolamo Sports Editor

Published07 Jan 2025

Disclosure

We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. Ads on our site are served by Google AdSense and are not controlled or influenced by our editorial team.

The Chicago Bears’ request to interview Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has been denied, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday.

Mike McCarthy Will Not Interview With Bears

ESPN Source: The Dallas Cowboys denied permission to the Chicago Bears to interview their head coach Mike McCarthy.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2025

On Monday, the Bears requested permission from the Cowboys to interview McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy. Dallas denied the Bears’ request.

McCarthy’s coaching contract with the Cowboys ends on Wednesday. However, Dallas holds exclusive negotiating rights with McCarthy through Jan. 14. This is how Dallas could legally block the Bears’ interview request.

If McCarthy does not sign a new contract with the Cowboys before the Jan. 14 date, he will become a coaching free agent, making him available to speak with every team.

The interview denial does not guarantee McCarthy will return to Dallas. However, it is a step in the right direction for the two sides to begin speaking about their head coach’s future.

1. If the Cowboys are not going to extend Mike McCarthy after this then they are some seriously unkind people

2. I'm personally assuming this means they are extending him

3. That being said… they remain incredibly childish with their insistence on being in the news by ONLY… https://t.co/Bla2NL8SQA

— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 8, 2025

Bears Coaching Search: Candidates

Bears plan to interview former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for their vacant head coach job Thursday, sources tell me and @JFowlerESPN

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) January 8, 2025

The Bears head coaching position is one of the most coveted jobs on the market. The team has a potential franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams with a talented defense.

With the right coach, Chicago could compete for a wild-card spot immediately.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel are two of the top candidates expected to interview with the Bears.

Other names expected to be in the mix include former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Bears interim coach Thomas Brown, and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

The man tasked with hiring the head coach will be Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who said he will be taking the “lead” during the interview process.