Pat O'Connor Retires, Leaving Tampa Bay a Thinner Defensive Line Heading Into Camp

Pat O'Connor called it a career on July 17, retiring at 32 after nine NFL seasons. The defensive lineman was part of the Buccaneers' 2021 Super Bowl championship roster, and his exit is the latest roster subtraction for a Tampa Bay team already navigating an offseason of transition.

O'Connor's departure removes a veteran presence from the defensive line at an awkward moment. The Buccaneers finished 8–9 last season and dropped seven of their final ten games, a stretch that exposed depth concerns across the roster. The defensive front that remains on the depth chart includes Yaya Diaby, Calijah Kancey, and Mohamed Kamara at the DL spots, with Elijah Roberts heading the DT group — a younger, less proven collection of names than what O'Connor represented in terms of postseason-tested experience.

Training camp opens with the organization still sorting through multiple roster questions. Bucky Irving remains questionable, which already clouds the backfield. Losing O'Connor adds another item to the checklist for a front office that will need to decide whether the current defensive line depth is sufficient or whether additional moves are warranted before the season begins.