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Chicago Bears get bad news on coaching search with denial

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Jan 7, 2025 7:31 PM ET

The Chicago Bears have sent several requests to interview coaches following the end of their season on Sunday. The Bears sent a formal request to interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson among several other coordinators around the league.

Chicago will interview former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel on Wednesday. With the New England Patriots already having completed their obligations with the Rooney Rule, the Bears will have to act quickly on Vrabel following the interview.

The Bears were in limbo on the status of Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy’s contract is set to expire, but the Cowboys hold his rights until Jan. 14. On Monday, Chicago requested permission from Dallas to interview McCarthy.

The Bears had not received a response from the Cowboys until later in the day on Tuesday.

Dallas Cowboys deny the Chicago Bears

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cowboys denied the Bears request.

“ESPN Source: The Dallas Cowboys denied permission to the Chicago Bears to interview their head coach Mike McCarthy,” posted Schefter on X.

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

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2025

Jones wants to control his leverage on McCarthy

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is trying to hold all the leverage he can on McCarthy’s camp. It appears Vrabel will be hired before Jan. 14. Many other candidates are still coaching in the playoffs, and can’t even begin in-person until later in January or February.

The Bears will have to wait one week to start the process with McCarthy, setting McCarthy back even further than candidates like Johnson, who are allowed to interview virtually this week.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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