In a heartfelt post, O’Connor reflected on the journey: “What a ride it’s been. After 9 incredible years, I think it’s finally time to hang up the cleats.” He accompanied the message with footage from fans announcing his selection by Detroit during the 2017 NFL draft. He added, “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. But here we are.” O’Connor thanked teammates, friends, and coaches as he looked toward life after football, saying, “As one chapter closes, another begins. Now it’s time to enter the real world. I’m beyond excited and ready for whatever comes next.”
Career highlights and timeline:
– O’Connor was selected by the Lions in the 2017 NFL draft, 250th overall in the seventh round, coming out of Eastern Michigan.
– He spent seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was part of the team that won Super Bowl LV after the 2020 season.
– In 2024, he returned to the organization that drafted him, initially joining Detroit’s practice squad before being promoted during a season that tested the Lions’ defensive depth, including an injury to Aidan Hutchinson.
– During the 2024 regular season, he appeared in 12 games, contributing 236 defensive snaps and 160 on special teams, providing valuable versatility as a reserve.
– O’Connor remained with Detroit for the 2025 season, appearing in eight games with three starts, finishing his NFL tenure with 88 regular-season appearances.
Overall, O’Connor’s nine-year NFL career showcased durability and adaptability. As a seventh-round pick who carved out a meaningful role across multiple seasons, his willingness to move between active rosters and practice squads, contribute on special teams, and stay available when injuries hit exemplified the versatility teams seek in depth players.
Retirement leaves the Lions with ongoing defensive-line questions heading into camp, particularly around reserve rotations and special-teams contributions. O’Connor’s ability to fill multiple roles highlighted the value of players who can contribute in more than one phase, especially on the fringe of the roster.
Looking back, O’Connor’s NFL journey came full circle: from a hometown draft moment with Detroit to a championship experience with Tampa Bay and back to Detroit, where his career began and culminated. The final chapter closed with a nod to the same moment fans once celebrated on draft day, underscoring a career defined by perseverance and steady contribution.
“Thank you, football, for everything,” O’Connor said as he closed this chapter.
