SEMINOLE, Fla. — This is how you do retirement — you embrace it and you own it, just like legendary Tampa Bay Buccaneer super-fan, Keith Kunzig.

What You Need To Know

  •  Keith Kunzig, as Big Nasty, was one of the most recognizable Tampa Bay Bucs fans

  •  His fandom got him honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame twice

  •  Kunzig retired Big Nasty after last season

Tom Brady may be surfing behind yachts and dating supermodels in his retirement, but Kunzig prefers the confines of home.

Just like Brady, Kunzig retired after last season. Two of the greatest-of-all-time called it a career with Brady hanging up his cleats and Kunzig hanging up his makeup brushes.

Kunzig's alter ego, Big Nasty, was a noticeable presence at Bucs games with many considering him to be the most recognizable Tampa Bay Bucs fan. Now he watches the games, from a slightly different perspective, and like most football fans, from his couch.

“I can get a beer in the fridge,” Kunzig said. “My wife gets the Pub subs from Publix. I’m ready to eat and just chill. I’m not sweating, I’m not sweating.”

The Big Nasty alter-ego started innocently enough as simple face painting to help his brother get over a break up. Over the years, it transformed into Pro Football Hall of Fame recognition twice over and acceptance as one of their own by the Tampa Bay team.

“It’s been a humbling 35 years. It’s definitely been a blessing,” he said. “I mean, come on, how many fans get to do what we’ve done.”

Last year, he decided the 2022-23 season would be his final as Big Nasty. It was time and Kunizg has embraced all of the retirement clichés.

He has got his favorite spot on the couch, he has his companions to watch the games — his wife Debbie and dog Kito, as well as the Bucs. But every once in a while, he feels twinges of missing out.

“Missed opening day, first time in 35 years,” Kunzig said. “That hurt. And it didn’t even hit me until we were watching the game.”

Big Nasty may be gone but the big Bucs fan remains. Just because Kunzig does not don the face paint does not mean he is not passionate about his Tampa Bay Bucs. That deep seeded love is still there and always will be.

“I’m still a nut,” he said. “I’m still going to be loud at the games. I’m still going to be a lunatic. They’re just going to say look at that fat white guy out there. That’s what they’re going to look at now.”

You will still catch him at Raymond James Stadium from time to time. He was there for the week six loss to the Detroit Lions where the Bucs wore their Creamsicle throwback jerseys for the first time in more than a decade.

But these days, his seat of choice is on his couch in the comforts of his own home.

“There’s parts of me, you know, that miss the fans coming up to ya,” Kunzig said. “But on the other hand, it’s been pretty cool. I mean watching it from home, the stuff you see of TV. I can’t believe the stuff I missed."