Former Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Pat O’Connor announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday in an Instagram post.
“If you had told my younger self that I’d play this long, spend my entire career with just two teams, get drafted, and win a Super Bowl, he would have called you crazy,” O’Connor wrote on Instagram. “But here we are.”I want to thank all of my teammates and friends I met along the way. There are far too many to name, so I won’t—but you know who you are. Thank you for the memories, the friendships, and everything in between.”
Originally a 2017 seventh-round NFL draft pick out of Eastern Michigan by the Lions, O’Connor carved out a nine-year NFL career. The Lions released O’Connor ahead of his rookie season during roster cuts, but the 6-foot-4, 300 pound defensive lineman latched on with the Bucs’ practice squad and wound up playing in 68 games with the Bucs.
O’Connor would finish his professional career where it began, playing his final two NFL seasons with the Lions. When Aidan Hutchinson was injured in the 2024 season, O’Connor was signed from the Lions’ practice squad to its active roster.
O’Connor would play in 20 games and start three with Detroit across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. O’Connor registered 28 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one pass defended in his two seasons with the Lions.
In his career, O’Connor totaled 52 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, one pass defended and one safety.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Former Lions NFL draft pick, 9-year pro announces retirement
Reporting by Josh Helmer, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Josh Helmer, Lions Wire | USA TODAY Network
