Pat O'Connor retires after nine seasons in the NFL

Pat O'Connor, a former Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman, has announced his retirement from the NFL. The announcement was made via an Instagram post on July 19, 2026. Originally a seventh-round draft pick in 2017, O'Connor carved out a nine-year career in which he played in 68 games with the Buccaneers before returning to the Lions. O'Connor's final two seasons saw him play 20 games, where he recorded 28 tackles and one sack. He expressed gratitude to teammates and friends in his retirement message.

• 8:35 PMYahoo Sports — Former Lions NFL draft pick, 9-year pro announces retirement