They say timing is everything, and for Pat O'Connor, right now was the right time for him to walk away from the Detroit Lions and his professional football career. The special teams ace and clutch performer decided to hang up his cleats just before the Lions opened training camp.
O'Connor announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 32 via his Instagram.
After over 600 career defensive snaps and just shy of 1,500 snaps on special teams, over a decade in the league, O'Connor leaves some big shoes to fill in Detroit. He walks away having won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and being one of those reliable glue guys for this Lions team.
Lions seventh-round rookie Tyre West has a clearer path to a roster spot during training camp
Now, with O'Connor leaving a significant role open, one Lions rookie suddenly has a crystal-clear path not only to a roster spot, but a decent amount of playing time. See, the Lions' defensive line has some depth to it, and typically a seventh-round pick might not have a real shot at making this team. But, for Tyre West, that chance just became even more real.
Last year, O'Connor played 64 percent of special teams snaps while appearing for 21 percent of snaps on defense. Coming in as a seventh-round pick out of Tennessee, West now knows exactly the role he can shoot for in Year 1.
Because he came into such a crowded defensive line room, there was no guarantee for West to make the roster. If anything, he'd be guaranteed a spot on the practice squad and could eventually find himself elevated when needed. But, a roster spot was not set in stone.
West stands 6-foot-1, 278 pounds while O'Connor was three inches shorter and a good 20 pounds heavier. The disparity in size might actually give West an advantage when it comes to securing a special teams role. He'll need the quickness in getting down the field on kickoff or moving laterally on kick return.
Fortunately, he came out of college with some of his top characteristics being a "consistent motor" and "good chase quickness."
If he is going to make this roster out of camp, West is going to have to do it on special teams. Also standing around him in that defensive end room are obviously Aidan Hutchinson and DJ Wonnum, with reserves like Payton Turner and rookie second rounder Derrick Moore.
Maybe his biggest competition for a roster spot will come from 2025 sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein. Between the two of them, the Lions might have to risk cutting a player and hoping to get them back on the practice squad after league waivers run.
This is nothing new for West, though, as he comes into the league having rarely played as a full-time starter. Once again, at the pro level, he'll have to earn everything he's given.
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