As Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy awaits word on his future with the team, some external pressure was applied to owner Jerry Jones this week.

McCarthy, who coached the final year of his deal with the Cowboys, has yet to receive a new contract from the team, nor has there been any indication that the franchise will opt for a change. In turn, McCarthy is in “wait and see” mode – at least until his exclusive negotiating window with the Cowboys expires on January 14.

However, on Monday afternoon, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Todd Archer reported that the Chicago Bears asked permission to interview McCarthy. The public request makes the Bears’ interest in McCarthy widely known and adds pressure to Jones and the Cowboys.

But the first big question was simple: How would the Cowboys respond to the request?

So far, they haven’t. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and head coach Mike McCarthy talk before a game against the Washington Commanders. Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Tim Heitman-Imagn Images As SB Nation’s RJ Ochoa pointed out, Dallas’s decision to simply not answer the Bears’ request is far from normal. Ochoa correctly called it “weird” and “not normal stuff.”

It has been about 18 hours since news broke of the Chicago Bears requesting to interview Mike McCarthy for their head coach position and to my knowledge there are no reports of an answer for the Cowboys.

The Fan that nothing could happen in the team’s Week 18 game against the Washington Commanders that would impact where the Cowboys will be “as they go forward,” it makes the situation even stranger.

The Cowboys have one week until it doesn’t matter what their response to the Bears’ request is, as McCarthy would be able to interview with any team he’d like at that point. So, if Jones and the Dallas front office remain uncertain about their plan at head coach, they’d be wise to make a final call sooner than later.