Cowboys Rumors: Team Doing 'Homework' on HC Candidates amid Mike McCarthy Buzz

Even though Jerry Jones has left the door open for Mike McCarthy to potentially return next season, the Dallas Cowboys are keeping their options open with the regular season coming to an end on Sunday.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Cowboys have started doing "homework" on potential candidates if they either don't bring McCarthy back or can't agree to terms on an extension before his contract expires on Jan. 14.

Jones has already said nothing that happens in Week 18 is going to have an impact either way on McCarthy's status.

"The hay is in the barn, really, as far as our staff is concerned and the qualities of each of the coaches. I don't think that something that would happen out here Sunday would impact where we are going to be as we go forward," Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Fox 4 News). "It doesn't have any effort on my part to look and see the positives of what we've had as a team under Mike McCarthy."

The expiration date on McCarthy's contract is notable because it gives the Cowboys a window of nine days after Sunday's season finale to exclusively negotiate with him and deny potential requests from other teams that might want to speak with him.

Per Jay Glazer of Fox Sports (starts at 1:10 mark), McCarthy is on the list of candidates for other teams that will be seeking a head coach this offseason.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Thursday that McCarthy would likely have interest in the Chicago Bears' job if he does end up leaving Dallas.

The Bears are one of three teams that currently have a coaching vacancy, along with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. Other jobs that could become available include the Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants.

There's no indication from Russini's report which candidates the Cowboys are doing background work on. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores are among the top names in the upcoming coaching cycle.

McCarthy has as 49-34 record in five seasons with the Cowboys. He led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2021 to '23, including two NFC East titles during that span.