UPDATE: The Bears announced on Wednesday evening that they completed their interview with Mike McCarthy. It took place at Halas Hall, per source (ESPN was first), and comes just a few days after he parted ways with the Dallas Cowboys.

UPDATE: Former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is expected to interview with the Bears on Wednesday at Halas Hall, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

UPDATE: Mike McCarthy and the Cowboys have not reached an agreement and the veteran coach will now become a free agent, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero Monday morning:

The Bears had requested permission to interview McCarthy, which was ultimately denied by the Cowboys (more on that below).

As Schefter indicates, the Bears are among the teams interested in McCarthy for their vacant head coaching position.

As Marquee Sports Network Bears Insider Scott Bair indicated, the Cowboys’ opening throws another wrench into what has become a wild head coaching market.

Prospective candidates will certainly be interested in going to a Dallas team that already has a franchise quarterback (Dak Prescott), elite wide receiver (CeeDee Lamb) and one of the best pass rushers in the game (Micah Parsons).

Stay tuned as this drama is sure to continue to unfold over the coming days/weeks.

Access denied … for now.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Dallas Cowboys denied the Bears request to interview their head coach, Mike McCarthy, for their vacant coaching role.

This is a unique circumstance because McCarthy is under contract with the Cowboys through January 14. Until then, teams interested in McCarthy’s services have to request to interview him — which Dallas can deny. After that date, McCarthy is a free agent and can interview with teams at his own discretion.

[NFL head coach interview tracker: Bears cast wide net for new leader]

Another wrinkle in the Mike McCarthy-Bears interview saga is that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said earlier in the week that McCarthy was free to ‘go talk’ with other teams.

Jones continued by saying, “I don’t want anybody here who doesn’t want to be here.”

While the Cowboys can exclusively negotiate with McCarthy for the next week, if a deal isn’t reached by then, McCarthy becomes a free agent. If that’s the case, an interview with the Bears may still be on the table.