🔥 Trending Pat O'Connor: NFL Defensive Lineman Announces Retirement

Pat O'Connor is a retired American professional football defensive end who recently announced his retirement from the NFL ¹⁴. He is known for his nine-year career, primarily with the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and for being a Super Bowl winner ⁵⁶.

Early Life and College Career

Patrick Joseph O'Connor was born on November 1, 1993 ¹. He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles ¹.

Professional NFL Career

O'Connor was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2017 as a seventh-round pick ²⁸. After his initial stint with the Lions, he moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ⁸. During his career, he played in 68 games for the Buccaneers ⁸. His career also included a Super Bowl win ⁵.

He returned to the Detroit Lions and played two seasons with the team ². In his last season, he appeared in eight games, starting three, and recorded 10 tackles ⁷.

Retirement

On Thursday, July 17, 2026, O'Connor announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 32 ⁶⁷. He shared the news via an Instagram post ³⁴⁸. In his announcement, he reflected on his career, stating, "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..." ³⁶. His retirement comes before the Lions' training camp ⁵.