After a team came calling in an attempt to poach their coach, the Dallas Cowboys are rejecting offers for Mike McCarthy.
That includes the Chicago Bears, with reports indicating they wanted to approach McCarthy about returning to the NFC North.
But according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cowboys have denied the Bears' request to interview McCarthy.
It's a baffling decision, considering McCarthy has only gone 49-35 in five seasons with Dallas and has never reached the NFC Championship game in that time.
Several Cowboys fans have been calling for McCarthy's job for years, including many this season as Dallas suffered its second losing season under the 61-year-old coach.
But instead, team owner and de facto general manager Jerry Jones believes McCarthy deserves a sixth season.
The Dallas Cowboys have denied the Chicago Bears' request to interview Mike McCarthy
Chicago seeks full-time replacement after Matt Eberflus was fired midseason
This leaves the Bears looking for another coach as Chicago is one of six teams with openings at that position.
Chicago has already scheduled interviews with the following coaches: former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, New York offensive coordinator York Giants, Mike Kafka, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, and former Tennessee. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Among the more interesting interview requests the Bears have sent out are Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Washington Commanders offensive coordinator (and former Cardinals head coach), Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Pittsburgh Steelers (and former Atlanta Falcons head coach) Arthur Smith, and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
Outside of the NFL world, the Bears also submitted a request to interview Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell.
In addition to the Bears, teams searching for their next head coach include the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders.
This season, the Bears finished 5-12. They were coached by Matt Eberflus until November 29, when he was fired after posting a 4-8 record.