While Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy waits on his future in Dallas as his contract nears expiration, he could have another suitor in the Chicago Bears, according to multiple reports.

The Bears, who have a coaching vacancy, have made formal requests to interview a list of current NFL assistants and one employed head coach in McCarthy, reports said.

ESPN reported Tuesday night that the Cowboys denied Chicago’s request for McCarthy, who completed his fifth season at the helm with Dallas missing the playoffs at 7-10. He is 49-35 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason.

His contract expires Wednesday with the Cowboys having exclusive negotiating rights through Jan. 14, ESPN reported.

McCarthy, 61, said he wants to return to Dallas while owner Jerry Jones has not committed to retaining him.

“I don’t know that I am considering making a change is really what I’m trying to say,” Jones said Sunday after the season finale, a home loss to the Washington Commanders. “Mike’s one of the best coaches that I think there is. He was made the coach here because I thought that, and he’s done absolutely nothing to diminish my opinion of him as a coach.”

McCarthy said he has a lot invested in the Cowboys, and the organization has a lot invested in him.

“And then there’s a personal side to all these decisions,” McCarthy said after Sunday’s game. “They all point the right direction. I think anytime you invest your time, energy, your belief, the connection you have, the relationships that are in place here, the understanding of what the organization can do and is willing to do, those are all positive attributes that you take into account.

“But, you know, absolutely, I’m a builder. I believe in building programs,” he continued. “I believe in developing young players. So, at the end of day, it is about winning, and you have to have those components in place to get this thing where it needs to be. I think we have a very good foundation here.”

McCarthy was head coach of the Green Bay Packers for nearly 13 full seasons (2006-18), getting fired after Week 13 in 2018. His Packers were 125-77-2 in the regular season and 10-8 in the postseason, including six division titles and the Super Bowl championship in the 2010 season.

–Field Level Media