We sat down with Suggs to talk about his favorite pastimes, becoming a vegetarian and life after the NFL.

Although seven-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion Terrell Suggs—“T-Sizzle” to his legions of fans—long envisioned retiring from the NFL with the Ravens, he’s happy to be back in Arizona. Having grown up in Chandler, attending Hamilton High School and playing football at ASU, he says: “The best thing about coming home is I get to be around my family all of the time now. I lived in Baltimore for a lot of years, and I wasn’t able to see them very much. That separation can be really hard.” When he isn’t training, his go-to pastimes include checking out the latest movies with his kids and shopping—though he confesses: “I haven’t been shopping since I’ve been back in Arizona, but when I do get out, I love Neiman Marcus and all the stores at Biltmore Fashion Park.”

While he and his brood used to enjoy noshing on pizza at Oregano’s, now, he says he’s discovered a healthier alternative. “I started eating a vegetarian diet about eight months ago. My barber told me about Green New American Vegetarian in Tempe, which is one of the best vegan restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. It was hard to retrain myself not to want the foods I’d been accustomed to my entire life, but now I see the results. I’ve never trained harder or felt better.”

Though he is headed into his 17th season, Suggs is laying the groundwork for life after the league. His film production company, Team Sizzle Worldwide, has a number of projects in the works, including films Everything About You and Brothers of Struggle. “I’ve always been interested in writing and film production. I want to build a bridge to cross over after football.” However, his fans don’t need to worry about his departure from the league anytime soon. “After 17 years, you learn to take it season by season. I love the game, and I’m going to play as long as I can. Football is still No. 1.”