It has been four days since the Dallas Cowboys decided to move on from Mike McCarthy. As details about the breakup have trickled out, though, it seems more and more like McCarthy left the Cowboys, not the other way around.
While Jerry Jones' contract offer was likely insulting, Jones reportedly also wanted to hire former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and make him McCarthy's successor. That obviously did not sit well with McCarthy and seemingly was the driving force behind his departure.
While the Cowboys weigh their options with Deion Sanders and Kellen Moore, among others, McCarthy is already a hot commodity in the coaching carousel.
McCarthy interviewed with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday and reports out of New Orleans suggest he will interview for the Saints' opening in the near future. Both teams ache for stability and a culture change and McCarthy is the most accomplished coach on the market.
Well, it appears that desperation is working to McCarthy's benefit.
Ex-Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy reportedly a finalist for the Bears' job
Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, FOX Sports insider Jordan Schultz, who broke the Cowboys' interest in Deion Sanders, revealed that the Bears' coaching search is now a two-horse race between McCarthy and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
"I think if [Vikings DC] Brian Flores goes in and wows them then he is still in that mix," said Schultz. "But right now, I think McCarthy and Ben Johnson are the two leading candidates for Chicago. It will be really interesting to see what type of direction they want to go. In many ways, the franchise is Caleb Williams, ideally for the next decade plus."
RELATED: Latest Mike Zimmer rumor could throw huge wrench into Cowboys' HC search
Cowboys fans may laugh at the Bears, but McCarthy is arguably the better fit than Johnson. While Johnson is one of the NFL's premier play-callers and Lions players have praised his leadership, he doesn't have any experience as a head coach.
McCarthy, meanwhile, has been a head coach for 18 years. He's been to the playoffs 12 times and won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2010.
Beyond that, McCarthy has a history of developing young quarterbacks and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams needs stability more than anything after a turbulent rookie year that included a head coaching change, two different play-callers and inconsistent performance.
McCarthy would inherit a talented offensive roster that includes receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze as well as running back D'Andre Swift. With the No. 10 overall pick and three picks inside the top 41, the Bears are primed to add multiple impact players in the draft.
It is arguably the most attractive head coach opening. It seemed for a while that Johnson was destined to get the job, but he's been heavily linked to Las Vegas in recent days. It wouldn't be at all surprising if McCarthy is the Bears' pick when all is said and done.