TheDetroit Lions selected O’Connor in the seventh round with the 250th overall pick in the2017 NFL draft.[7] On May 12, 2017, the Lions signed O'Connor to a four-year, $2.46 million contract with a signing bonus of $64,270.[8] He was waived on September 2, 2017, and was signed to the Lions'practice squad the next day.[9][10] He was released by the team on September 13, 2017.[11]
On October 9, 2017, O'Connor was signed to theTampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad.[12] He was promoted to the active roster on November 29.[13]
On September 1, 2018, O'Connor was waived by the Buccaneers and was re-signed to the practice squad.[14][15] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on December 31.[16]
On September 2, 2019, O'Connor was waived by the Buccaneers and re-signed to the practice squad.[17] He was promoted to the active roster on September 24.[18]
In Week 14 against theMinnesota Vikings in 2020, O'Connor recorded his first career sack onKirk Cousins during the 26–14 win.[19] O'Connor played in all four games in the Buccaneers' playoff run that resulted in the team winningSuper Bowl LV.[20][21][22]
O'Connor was given anexclusive-rights free agent tender by the Buccaneers on March 9, 2021.[23] He entrenched himself as a core special teams player for the Buccaneers in 2021. He suffered a knee injury in Week 15 and was placed oninjured reserve on December 21.[24] On March 15, 2022, the Buccaneers announced they would not tender O'Conner.[25]
On April 12, 2022, the Buccaneers re-signed O'Connor to a one-year contract.[26]
On August 29, 2023, O'Connor was released by the Buccaneers and re-signed to the practice squad.[27][28] He was promoted to the active roster on September 20.[29] O'Connor was released on October 31 and re-signed to the practice squad.[30] He was promoted to the active roster on December 1.[31]
On August 1, 2024, O’Connor signed with the Lions.[32] He was released on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[33][34] He was promoted to the active roster on October 19.
On March 18, 2025, the Lions re-signed O'Connor to a one-year contract.[35] He was placed on injured reserve on November 14, and released the next day.[36]
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