Pat O’Connor Bio
Patrick Joseph O’Connor, born on November 1, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American professional football defensive end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles and was selected in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. O’Connor has spent time with both the Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers during the 2020 season.
Early Life and Background
Patrick Joseph O’Connor was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he attended Chicago St. Rita High School. Growing up in a city with a deep football tradition, O’Connor developed an early interest in the sport and played through the local youth and high school ranks. His physical development during those years helped lay the groundwork for a future as a defensive lineman at the collegiate level.
After completing high school, O’Connor committed to Eastern Michigan University, where he continued his football career as a defensive end. Standing at 193 centimeters and listed around 136 kilograms, he possessed the size and frame that suited the position even before reaching the professional level. His path through the Mid-American Conference would shape the player he eventually became.
Path to Professional Football
At Eastern Michigan, O’Connor developed into a steady contributor along the defensive line, finishing his senior season with 42 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Across his college career, he accumulated 166 total tackles and 20 sacks, numbers that reflected his consistency and his reputation for strong work ethic. He was recognized for his play with selection to the All-Mid-American Conference team in 2016.
His performance at Eastern Michigan drew the attention of NFL scouts, and he was selected in the seventh round with the 250th overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2017 NFL Draft. Although his draft slot suggested a long shot to make an active roster, O’Connor signed a four-year rookie contract with the Lions worth approximately $2.46 million, including a signing bonus. That contract marked his official entry into professional football.
Pat O’Connor Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
O’Connor’s professional journey began in Detroit, but he did not spend his first season on the Lions’ active roster. After being waived in early September 2017, he was signed to the practice squad and later released before the season was underway. On October 9, 2017, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added him to their practice squad, and by late November he had been promoted to the active roster.
In 2018, O’Connor continued to bounce between the Buccaneers’ active roster and practice squad, eventually signing a reserve and future contract at the end of December. Those early seasons required patience and persistence, as he worked to prove himself on special teams and as a rotational defensive end. His perseverance kept him in the league during a period when many late-round picks fall out of the NFL entirely.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2017-2023)
O’Connor spent the majority of his first six professional seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he carved out a role as a reliable depth piece along the defensive line and on special teams. In 2020, he recorded his first career sack during a Week 14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, bringing down Kirk Cousins in a 26-14 win. He went on to appear in all four games of the Buccaneers’ playoff run that season.
That playoff stretch ended with Tampa Bay winning Super Bowl LV, making O’Connor a Super Bowl champion. The Buccaneers tendered him as an exclusive-rights free agent in March 2021, and he settled into the role of a core special teams contributor. A knee injury in Week 15 of the 2021 season landed him on injured reserve, but he returned to the team in 2022 on a one-year deal. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad in 2023, continuing his role as a steady veteran presence.
Detroit Lions Era (2024-Present)
O’Connor returned to the franchise that originally drafted him when he signed with the Detroit Lions on August 1, 2024. After being released and re-signed to the practice squad in late August, he was promoted to the active roster on October 19. He went on to appear in games during the Lions’ season, contributing on special teams and along the defensive front.
On March 18, 2025, the Lions re-signed O’Connor to a one-year contract, signaling their continued faith in his role. He was later placed on injured reserve in November 2025 before being released and then re-signed to the practice squad in December. His return to Detroit has allowed him to remain an active NFL contributor into his eighth professional season.
Notable Events and Milestones
O’Connor’s most significant professional milestone came during the 2020 season, when he helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers capture Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs. Earlier that same season, he notched his first career sack against Kirk Cousins, a moment that arrived in his fourth year in the league and reflected the patience required of late-round defensive linemen. The combination of a championship ring and a return to his original drafting team has defined the second phase of his career.
Pat O’Connor Career Wins
Patrick Joseph O’Connor is best recognized for his role on Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, a championship earned during the 2020 season. His individual win totals at the professional level are tied to team success, as his contributions came primarily as a rotational defensive end and core special teams player rather than as a primary pass rusher.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highlights
O’Connor’s defining Buccaneers moment arrived during the 2020 postseason, when he played in all four games of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl run. He recorded his first career sack that same season, a notable milestone for a player who had spent his first three professional campaigns largely on practice squads. Although he was not a starter on defense, his special teams work helped stabilize the Buccaneers’ coverage and return units during a championship season.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his Super Bowl championship, O’Connor earned recognition at the collegiate level as a two-time First-team All-MAC honoree in 2014 and 2016. Those awards highlighted his development as a defensive end at Eastern Michigan and foreshadowed the durability he would later bring to the NFL. His professional longevity, spanning multiple teams and roster moves, stands as a quiet achievement in its own right.
Pat O’Connor Family
Personal Life
Patrick Joseph O’Connor is an American professional football player born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Public details about his immediate family, marital status, and children are not widely documented, and no verified information about his parents or spouse is currently available.
2025 Season Performance
O’Connor began the 2025 season with the Detroit Lions after signing a one-year contract in March. He was active on special teams and as a rotational defensive lineman during the early part of the year, contributing to a Lions squad that remained competitive within the NFC. His veteran presence continued to provide depth and stability on coverage units.
In November 2025, O’Connor was placed on injured reserve and later released, before being re-signed to the Lions’ practice squad in December. That sequence reflected his standing within the organization as a trusted reserve whose experience still carried value. Heading into the remainder of the season, O’Connor remained an available depth option along the defensive line and on special teams.