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The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly denied the Chicago Bears’ request to interview head coach Mike McCarthy, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schefter previously reported the request had gone unanswered by midday Tuesday after the Bears initially asked for permission on Monday.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Sunday he had not yet made a decision regarding the head coach’s future and would be fine with other teams interviewing McCarthy, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
McCarthy’s contract is set to expire next Tuesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported.
The Cowboys missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons this winter after losing Dak Prescott to a midseason hamstring injury.
Dallas has made the playoffs in three of McCarthy’s five seasons of the helm, and finished out his two losing campaigns without Prescott, although the team has just one postseason win during that span.
McCarthy said after the Cowboys’ season-ending loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday that he