Gerald McCoy spent nine of his ten years in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Having spent most of his career in Tampa, it's then understandable that he wants to finish his NFL career with the team that drafted him.

The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud reported that the 31-year-old defensive tackle has nothing but love for his former team. He also declared his plans to finish his NFL career with the team.

“I’m going to retire a Buc. I can tell you that now,” McCoy told reporters in Charlotte Tuesday. “Yeah. What do they do? One day contracts? Ten hour contracts? Whatever. I don’t know what it’s called. I’m going to retire (as) a Buc. I’ve already talked to owners, we’ve already established that. So regardless of where I go, whether I’m here a couple more years, whether I go somewhere else, when I officially retire, I’m going to go and retire as a Buccaneer.”

However, he hasn't forgotten that he is no longer a Buc and is currently a Carolina Panther. He told Max Henson of the Panthers media team that he will be ready to play.

“(My teammates) are like, ‘Oh, we know you gonna be on 10 for this game.’ I’m going to play the game and have fun like I always do. I’m not going to do any fighting or any of that stuff. I’m not into that. I just play ball and move on. All the chitchat during the game won’t be going on. I ain’t with all that.”

McCoy had a successful stint with the Buccaneers. He was a Pro Bowler from 2012 to 2017. He also got named to the First-Team All-Pro team in 2013 while donning Tampa Bay colors. He made four fumble recoveries and 296 tackles during his nine years in Tampa.

He may share some small talk with his former teammates, but he is a professional football player. He wants nothing more than to help his team get its first win. Even if it is at the Bucs' expense.