Pat O’Connor Retirement Ends Lions Career

Rise from Draft to Retirement

The Detroit Lions selected Pat O’Connor in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan. At 6‑foot‑4 and 300 pounds, the defensive lineman missed the initial training camp roster and spent preseason trying out elsewhere. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him in October, beginning a period of repeated cuts and re‑signs.

Buccaneers Tenure and Super Bowl Ring

O’Connor became a fixture on special teams, with his best statistical season producing six tackles and a single sack in 2020. That year the Buccaneers captured the Super Bowl, giving him a championship title he will keep after hanging up his helmet. The team elected not to retain him after the 2023 campaign, prompting his return to Detroit.

Final Seasons with the Lions

Returning to the Lions in 2024, he appeared in 12 games and recorded a career‑high 18 tackles plus another sack. He added eight more contests in 2025, contributing 10 tackles. In total, O’Connor logged 88 regular‑season games during his eight‑year career.

Retirement Announcement

The 32‑year‑old was placed on the reserve/retired list by the Lions on Thursday, officially closing a full‑circle journey that began with a draft pick and ended with a Super Bowl champion’s gratitude. His story illustrates how perseverance on the periphery of rosters can yield both a ring and a lasting résumé.