Our series Hometown Saints continues with a look at New Orleans Saints center Max Unger's family and his hometown of Hookena, Hawaii.
Photos by Marco Garcia
Cynda and Keith Unger, parents of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, hold a Saint's flag inside a tack room on McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda and Keith Unger, parents of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, stand atop an ancient lava flow on the shores of Hookena Beach, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent his youth swimming and camping at Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda and Keith Unger, parents of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, overlook their land on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Keith Unger, father of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, points ro his Saint's flag pinned to his ATV on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda and Keith Unger, parents of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, stand inside a tack room on McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Keith Unger, father of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, corrals horses on McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Keith Unger, father of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, opens a cattle gate on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda and Keith Unger, parents of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, stand inside a tack room on McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Horse saddles sit inside a tack room on McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda and Keith Unger, parents of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, stand inside their hope aired on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Keith, left and Cynda Unger, parents of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, sit in their kitchen at their home on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Keith Unger, father of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, holds his son's NFL Pro Bowl football at their family home on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A youthful signature of NFL center Max Unger is carved into the cement of the sidewalk next to the Unger family home at the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A belt buckle with the McCandless Ranch symbol sits atop a paniolo, or Hawaiian style cowboy hat, at the Unger family home, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Keith Unger, father of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, pulls his son's surfboard out of the garage at the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A surfboard belonging to NFL center Max Unger, sits next to the Unger family garage at the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A view of the Unger family home at the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda Unger, mother of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, shows off a ukulele made by her son, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. While living in Seattle, Max crafted the ukulele using koa wood harvested from his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda Unger, mother of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, shows off a ukulele made by her son, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. While living in Seattle, Max crafted the ukulele using koa wood harvested from his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Keith Unger, father of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, sits among family pictures and his son's NFL memorabilia at their family home on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda and Keith Unger, parents of New Orleans Saints center Max Unger, sits among family pictures and their son's NFL memorabilia at their family home on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Unger family pictures sit atop a table at the Unger family home on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Cynda Unger holds a picture of her son, Max Unger in his high school football uniform, while in her kitchen at her home on the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. Max Unger grew up on the 7000 acre working cattle ranch on the slopes of Mauna Loa. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
An ancient lava from Mauna Loa stretches into the ocean on the shores of Hookena Beach, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent his youth swimming and camping at Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Palm trees sway on the beach, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on the Big Island and spent his youth around the Kailua Kona area. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
As a cruise ship is seen in the distance, the ocean washes up on the shore, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on the Big Island and spent his youth around the Kailua Kona area. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Palm trees sway on the beach, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on the Big Island and spent his youth around the Kailua Kona area. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Old Airport sports field is seen, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger, who grew up on the Big Island, played many sports at the "old A" field including winning a championship football game. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Palm trees sway on the beach, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on the Big Island and spent his youth around the Kailua Kona area. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A view from the Unger family home at the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent time riding horses and working on the ranch. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Beach goers walk down Hookena Beach, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent his youth swimming and camping at Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Traditional style canoes sit atop the beach at Hookena Beach, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent his youth swimming and camping at Hookena Beach. The canoes are still used to fish by Native Hawaiians. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A marlin decorates a sign, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on the Big Island and spent his youth around the Kailua Kona area. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A sign offering Kona coffee is seen at a shop near the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
Beach goers walk down Hookena Beach, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Hookena, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. According to family, Max spent his youth swimming and camping at Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A symbol of Hawaiian royalty is seen on the gates of the Hulie'e Palace, the former summer home for Hawaiian royalty, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on the Big Island and spent his youth around the Kailua Kona area. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
A visitor walks near the Hulie'e Palace, the former summer home for Hawaiian royalty, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on the Big Island and spent his youth around the Kailua Kona area. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
The old Kona Theater sits on the highway leading towards the McCandless Ranch, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Captan Cook, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on his family's McCandless Ranch, a 7000 acre working cattle ranch that starts on the slopes of Mauna Loa stretches down to Hookena Beach. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
The iconic steeple of the Mokuaikaua Church is seen, Wed, Jan. 16, 2019, in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. NFL football center Max Unger grew up on the Big Island and spent his youth around the Kailua Kona area. (Marco Garcia for the New Orleans Saints)
If Max Unger hadn't retired last offseason, he's pretty sure he'd have walked away this offseason.
The New Orleans Saints' former center (2015-18) said his regular-season readiness heavily was predicated on offseason workouts with and against teammates, that he absolutely needed the OTAs and minicamps in order to ready himself for the season.
No work with teammates, and no weightlifting and conditioning at the facility, would've been enough for Unger to remove himself from the equation, because he didn't feel he could replicate his regimen well enough alone to show up at training camp and be ready for the season.
But, maybe, Unger undersells himself.
After all, having the discipline to drop 60 to 65 pounds in his first year of retirement – he said he weighs around 240 now – speaks to how intensely and how willing he is to work.
"It's a pretty good deal," Unger said Monday, during a video conference with local media. "It's a little overrated. I'm still waiting to have a little bit more energy and feel good, but I think I'm on the right track.
"It was a good thing to focus on right out of the gate. It's another thing to obsess over and it's kind of an easy transition. You spend so much time in the NFL taking care of your body and doing treatment, you just kind of transition right into a hardcore diet. And if you do it right away, it hasn't been too bad."
Retirement appears to agree with Unger, who said he has no regrets. He earned a Pro Bowl invitation in his final season, which ended with New Orleans losing to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
Since, the 34-year-old primarily has been at home in Hawaii.
"I retired after the NFC Championship Game in 2019," he said. "Moved back to Hawaii. My family and I did spend a little of time on the mainland right after retirement, stuck around in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and them moved back here. And I've just been kind of helping my dad on our ranch in Hawaii every once in a while.
"Other than that, just kind of recovering. It's been an interesting break from football."
While Unger's retirement was a bit of a surprise to many, it didn't totally catch the Saints off guard. He'd shared the possibility with the front office; the Saints responded in the offseason by signing free agent Nick Easton, and drafting Erik McCoy with their first pick in 2019, in the second round. McCoy started every game at center as a rookie.
"The guy came in there and just played his butt off," Unger said of McCoy. "It was impressive. He started every game at center. That's hard to do, especially in this offense, Drew (Brees) coming into the huddle and calling the plays at about 100 miles an hour. I think a lot of people have a lot of high expectations for him, and really that whole group."
Much the same as expectations were high when Unger was a Saint, and would have remained if he'd returned another season. But, Unger said, it was time.
"You start playing offensive line in the NFL past the age of 30, it's going to be tough," he said. "Toward the end of my career, it was time to call it quits. It felt like my body was almost at the end of being able to do it, so it felt like it was time.
"But I'm feeling better. I think that it's just a lot of maintenance and the more you move around, I think the better you feel. The hard thing is doing stuff that you're not used to. You're used to lifting such heavy weights and conditioning for so long, and really football-specific stuff, and as soon as you get out of that you get humbled pretty quickly. I tell you what: If you go for a jog for five minutes, crushes you. Much harder than 9-on-7 in training camp."
