Report: Chicago Bears request permission to interview Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy

The Chicago Bears reportedly requested permission to interview Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy for their coaching vacancy, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“Chicago Bears have sought permission to interview Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and are awaiting a response from Dallas, sources tell me and Todd Archer,” Schefter wrote on Twitter. “If the Cowboys don’t allow permission this week, the Bears could interview McCarthy after his exclusive negotiating window with Dallas expires Jan. 14.”

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For what it’s worth, McCarthy knows the Bears quite well from his time in Green Bay. He’s 19-7 against Chicago in his career.

Since McCarthy’s contract expires next week, he is free to walk away from the Cowboys, should he choose. We’ll see if the Bears are willing to wait it out if Dallas does not allow McCarthy to interview with Chicago this week.

Dallas has not determined whether or not McCarthy will come back but the decision reportedly might not be in their hands. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler previously reported McCarthy had his sights on the Chicago Bears job ahead of the 2025 season.

“I’ve talked to multiple people who believe McCarthy — should he leave Dallas — could set his sights on Chicago,” Fowler said.

NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed how hot McCarthy’s seat is as the Cowboys head into the offseason after Sunday.

“It’s always a tough time of year for coaches, for their families. I think Mike McCarthy, who’s in the last year (of his contract), think a lot of people in Dallas believe that he has a real chance to be back,” Schefter said on SportsCenter on Sunday morning. “That he’s going to be talking with the Cowboys. I do not think this is a certainty in any way, shape or form.

“I think there are people in that organization that would like it back. I think others have some questions, and they’re going to take some time to sit down after today’s game to figure out whether or not they could work it out and make it happen.”

In the lead-up to Week 18, McCarthy touched on the emotions that are tied with Sunday potentially being his final game coaching the Cowboys — and final with a home game inside AT&T Stadium.

“I’ll be honest with you, I go to the stadium much earlier this time in my career than I used to,” McCarthy said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. “I won a Super Bowl in that home locker room at AT&T Stadium. “So I have a very strong emotional attachment that it hits me every time I walk in there and every time I walk out. So, yeah, I’m definitely aware of it. I’m not thinking about it right now, but, yeah, I’m definitely in tune with that.”