The Bears are casting a wide net in their search for the 18th head coach in franchise history as a critical offseason for the team gets underway. One potential candidate will have to be taken off the interview list — at least for the next several days,

Mike McCarthy says he absolutely wants to return as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has dropped multiple hints that McCarthy would be back, but the team owner was far from definitive about McCarthy’s future after a 23-19 loss to Washington finished a 7-10 season.

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.