Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy sat down to talk Tuesday. Later in the day, the Cowboys denied Chicago’s request to interview McCarthy for its head coaching vacancy. The two are related, based on what two people with knowledge of the impending discussions told The Dallas Morning News after the Bears made their request.

Dallas isn’t ready to relinquish their rights to their head coach, but it doesn’t have to mean he’s returning in 2025.

As questions swirl around McCarthy's future in Dallas, the Cowboys have denied the Bears' request to interview him.