NFL Rumors: Mike McCarthy 'Could Set His Sights' on Bears Job If He Leaves Cowboys

While Jerry Jones continues to speak highly of Mike McCarthy, the veteran head coach will make himself available to another team looking for a head coach if he isn't brought back by the Dallas Cowboys after this season.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, McCarthy "could set his sights" on the Chicago Bears' job if he leaves Dallas.

If Jones has made a decision, one way or another, about McCarthy's status, he's not tipping his hand. The Cowboys owner said Tuesday during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com) he'll wait until after Sunday's season finale to announce any decisions:

"I don't have any comment this morning other than what you just said, and I think the fan sentiment has shown that Mike's certainly got the kind of coaching background and coaching success that would make him a very qualified coach in the NFL. What I'm not going to do this morning is to get into any indication one way or the other that I'm not interested in having Mike back, I don't want that to be the case at all."

Jones doesn't technically have to do anything if he wants to make a coaching change since McCarthy's contract expires after this season.

The Bears have become a sought-after job in the weeks since firing Matt Eberflus. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last week Pete Carroll has expressed interest in the Chicago opening.

Fowler noted Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has "at least some interest" in the Bears job.

McCarthy has proven to be a stabilizing force as an NFL head coach, but the ceiling is limited with the exception of one time with the Green Bay Packers during the 2010 season when Aaron Rodgers had one of the all-time great postseasons.

In 18 seasons between the Packers and Cowboys, McCarthy has a 174-111-2 record. His teams have only won multiple playoff games in the same season twice in 12 appearances.

Since joining the Cowboys prior to the 2020 season, McCarthy has a 1-3 record in four playoff games.

Given how things ended with Eberflus and continued under interim head coach Thomas Brown, the Bears could use McCarthy's ability to quiet things down. He may not be the most exciting coach that could be available, but this franchise needs all the help it can get amid a disappointing season that has seen them lose 10 straight games after a 4-2 start.