Olsen is prepared for the future on a couple of fronts.

Take the upcoming draft, for instance. The Panthers haven't selected a tight end on the first or second day of the draft during Olsen's tenure. But after Ed Dickson signed with Seattle and the Panthers didn't land a replacement in free agency, there's a decent chance an addition comes via an early round of the draft.

"I prepare myself every year for the possibility they could draft a guy to come in here, whether he's my successor or replacement or however you want to look at it," Olsen said. "I think it would be great to get a young guy in and work with him and help him with some of the things I've learned the past 11 years. I think our room has a lot to offer. If I were a young guy I would want to come into a room like ours and learn from (coach) Pete (Hoener) and our group.

"I'll do everything I can to help just like Desmond Clark did for me when I got drafted in Chicago. But – just like Des helped me – by no means did he just turn over and play dead. I don't have any interest in doing that either. The reality is, the young guy is going to have to be pretty good to take it away from me. That's my approach and how I believe in going about my business. If you don't feel that way, you're going to get beat out pretty quick."

Olsen has also been preparing for life after retirement. His recent audition for a commentator role on ESPN's Monday Night Football crew, a position that needs to be filled for the 2018 season, sent shockwaves through the fan base.

"Any time you get an opportunity like that you'd be silly not to go through it and get that experience under your belt, get that practice," Olsen said. "It was more of an experience thing, and on their end more of a due diligence thing, which I was cool with. I haven't called many games, although I did a similar type of audition years ago out in L.A. for FOX – the difference is nobody knew until now. And of course I called the (Vikings-Rams) game last year.

"I gave the team a heads up. I assumed it was going to come out and I wanted Ron (Rivera) and Marty (Hurney) to hear it from me. After it came out, I was glad I did that. But I get it – I understand everyone's initial reaction."

Panther fans aren't ready to picture life without Olsen. That's not something he's ready for either.