An under-the-radar head-coaching candidate will get his chance to speak with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.

Per ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Panthers are expected to conduct their virtual interview with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales tomorrow. Canales is one of 12 known candidates for the position.

The 42-year-old play-caller was asked about Carolina’s request to interview him for their job last Friday.

“It’s something that I’ve been thinking about for a really long time,” he replied. “So I have some stuff prepared, but I really haven’t had time to look at that this week with a formidable in the opponent like the Eagles that are comin’ in here. So it’s gonna require all of us, all of me to be really locked in. And then we’ll play Monday night and we’ll take it from there.

“And at some point, I’ll have a conversation with them and I’ll be really excited and fired up to say the same things that we’ve been talking about here—about building a team that plays championship type of football from the minute you get here.”

Well, that formidable opponent came and went for Canales and the Buccaneers, who romped their way to a 32-9 win on Monday. And that long-awaited interview is coming up next.

The Panthers are also expected to talk with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan on Thursday as well.

Story originally appeared on Panthers Wire