According to ESPN, the Cowboys denied Chicago’s request to interview McCarthy. The Bears requested permission to interview McCarthy shortly after both teams’ season finale. The Cowboys hadn’t responded to the request as of Monday.

The Dallas Cowboys have denied the Chicago Bears permission to interview Mike McCarthy, a decision that Bears fans seem to happily accept.

The Cowboys have denied permission to the Bears to interview coach Mike McCarthy, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

Mike McCarthy "absolutely'' wants to stay with the Cowboys under the terms of an extension. And he won't be going to the Chicago Bears - at least not under the terms of the just-announced plan.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently spoke about the future of head coach Mike McCarthy, stating that he was fine with McCarthy seeking interviews elsewhere. That elsewhere was revealed when the Chicago Bears formally requested to interview the Cowboys coach for their head coaching vacancy.

After a bit of a delay, the Cowboys have responded to the Bears regarding Mike McCarthy. Dallas is blocking its head coach from meeting with Chicago brass for a lateral move, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Chicago requested permission to interview Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, but according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cowboys have denied the Bears' request to interview him.

Head coach Mike McCarthy is under contract with the Cowboys until Jan. 14, but that doesn't mean other organizations aren't interested in prying the coach away from "America's Team." The Chicago Bears put in a request to interview the Dallas coach, something that was ignored up to this point like a text you had no desire to answer.

The Cowboys have denied the Bears' request to interview MIke McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy. What comes next?