Aidan O'Connell
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Aidan O'Connell
| image = Aidan O'Connell (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = O'Connell with the Purdue Boilermakers in 2022
| current_team = Las Vegas Raiders
| number = 12
| position = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|9|1}}
| birth_place = Long Grove, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 210
| high_school = Stevenson {{nowrap|(Lincolnshire, Illinois)}}
| college = Purdue (2017–2022)
| draftyear = 2023
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 135
| pastteams =
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- 2× Second-team All-Big Ten (2021, 2022)
| statleague = NFL
| statweek = 18
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Passing attempts
| statvalue1 = 586
| statlabel2 = Passing completions
| statvalue2 = 367
| statlabel3 = Completion percentage
| statvalue3 = 62.6%
| statvalue4 = 20–11
| statlabel5 = Passing yards
| statvalue5 = 3,830
| statlabel6 = Passer rating
| statvalue6 = 85.1
}}
Aidan James O'Connell (born September 1, 1998) is an American professional football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Early life
O'Connell was born in Long Grove, Illinois, on September 1, 1998.{{cite web|title=Aidan O'Connell biography|publisher=Purdue University Athletics|work=purduesports.com|access-date=March 5, 2023|url=https://purduesports.com/sports/football/roster/aidan-o-connell/11413}} O'Connell is the middle child of five brothers: Sean, Patrick, Liam, and Seamus. He also has one sister, Grace.
O'Connell played high school football and basketball for Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.{{Cite web |last=McGraw |first=Patricia Babcock |date=October 6, 2016 |title=Daily Herald: Stevenson's 'O' vs. Lake Zurich's 'D' |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/10/6/18496959/daily-herald-stevenson-8217-s-8216-o-8217-vs-lake-zurich-8217-s-8216-d-8217 |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Chicago Sun-Times}} He was not a highly recruited Illinois high school athlete, as his only scholarship offer came from Davenport University, a Division II school.{{Cite web |last=Narang |first=Bobby |date=December 14, 2016 |title=Recruiting notes: Stevenson's Aidan O'Connell opts for college football |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/sports/ct-lns-football-notes-st-1215-20161214-story.html |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Chicago Tribune}} In 2016, his only season as a starter, he threw for a school record 2,741 yards and 26 touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Reaven |first=Steve |date=March 6, 2017 |title=Purdue-bound QB Aidan O'Connell wraps up Stevenson athletic career |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/buffalo-grove/sports/ct-lsr-stevenson-waukegan-aidan-oconnell-tl-0309-20170306-story.html |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Chicago Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=McGraw |first=Patricia Babcock |date=September 15, 2016 |title=Stevenson's O'Connell making the most of his chance |url=https://football.dailyherald.com/article/20160915/sports/160919166/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Football Focus}}
{{College athlete recruit start|40=yes|collapse=no|year=2014}}
{{College athlete recruit entry
| recruit = Aidan O'Connell
| position = QB
| hometown = Lincolnshire, Illinois
| highschool = Stevenson (IL)
| feet = 6
| inches = 3
| weight = 170
| 40 =
| commitdate = February 6, 2016
| scout stars =
| rivals stars =
| espn stars =
| espn grade =
}}
{{College athlete recruit end
| year = 2017
| rivals ref title = Purdue Football Commitments
| scout ref title = 2017 Purdue Football Commits
| espn ref title = ESPN
| rivals school = purdue
| scout s = purdue
| espn schoolid = 2509
| rivals overall = NR (IL)
| espn overall = NR (national), NR (QB, pocket passer), NR (IL)
| access-date = March 6, 2023
}}
College career
On February 3, 2017, O'Connell committed to play college football for Wheaton College,{{Cite web |last=Carmin |first=Mike |date=November 8, 2019 |title=Aidan O'Connell's journey; Wheaton College commitment to Purdue's starting quarterback |url=https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/2019/11/08/aidan-oconnells-journey-wheaton-college-commitment-to-purdues-starting-quarterback/2524279001/ |access-date=March 6, 2023 |website=Lafayette Journal & Courier}} but less than a month later, he accepted a preferred walk-on spot with Purdue.{{Cite web |last=Narang |first=Bob |date=December 9, 2021 |title=Aidan O'Connell had no Division I scholarship offers coming out of Stevenson. But in his first season starting for Purdue, he has become one of the nation's top QBs. Is the NFL next? |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/sports/ct-lns-cfb-oconnell-st-1210-20211209-pf5xabixubgnbmk5joswbqnxpe-story.html |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Chicago Tribune}}
After not playing in 2017 and 2018, he played in six games in 2019 and started three. He made his first career start against Northwestern, completing 34 of 50 passes for 271 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.{{Cite web |last=Carmin |first=Mike |date=November 9, 2019 |title=Purdue, Aidan O'Connell produce more fourth-quarter magic at Northwestern |url=https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/2019/11/09/purdue-football-aidan-oconnell-produce-more-fourth-quarter-magic-at-northwestern/2532581001/ |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=Journal and Courier}} Overall that season, he completed 103 of 164 passes for 1,101 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. O'Connell entered 2020 as the starter before suffering a season-ending injury after three games.{{Cite web |last=Rittenberg |first=Adam |date=December 4, 2020 |title=Purdue's O'Connell to have surgery; season over |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30445785/purdue-aidan-oconnell-season-ending-surgery-foot |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}} He completed 88 of 136 passes for 916 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. O'Connell entered 2021 as the backup to Jack Plummer, but eventually took over as the starter and completed 315 of 440 passes for 3,712 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.{{Cite web |title=Aidan O'Connell 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/aidan-oconnell-1/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=December 20, 2024 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He decided to enter the 2023 NFL draft after the 2022 season.{{Cite magazine |last=Fezler |first=D. J. |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Quarterback Aidan O'Connell Announces Decision to Return to Purdue Next Season |url=https://www.si.com/college/purdue/football/quarterback-aidan-oconnell-announces-decision-to-return-to-purdue-next-season |access-date=October 7, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} In the 2022 season, he passed for 3,490 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions to go with a rushing touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Aidan O'Connell 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/aidan-oconnell-1/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=December 20, 2024 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2" |Team ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="4"| Rushing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| 2017
| 0 || — || colspan="12" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|DNP|Did not play}} | ||||||||||||||
| 2018
| 0 || — | ||||||||||||||
| 2019
| 6 || 1–2 || 103 || 164 || 62.8 || 1,101 || 6.7 || 8 || 4 || 130.4 || 15 || -9 || -0.6 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2020
| 3 || 2–1 || 88 || 136 || 64.7 || 916 || 6.7 || 7 || 2 || 135.3 || 12 || −64 || −5.3 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2021
| 12 || 7–3 || 315 || 440 || 71.6 || 3,712 || 8.4 || 28 || 11 || 158.5 || 25 || −120 || −4.8 || 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022
| 12 || 7–5 || 320 || 499 || 64.1 || 3,490 || 7.0 || 22 || 13 || 132.2 || 43 || −81 || −1.9 || 1 | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/aidan-oconnell-1.html Career] | 33 | 17–11 | 826 | 1,239 | 66.7 | 9,219 | 7.4 | 65 | 30 | 141.6 | 95 | -274 | -2.9 | 2 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 3/8
| weight = 213
| arm span = 32 1/4
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = All values from the NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/aidan-o-connell/32004f43-4f07-5507-fffe-35de4751ec57 |title=Aidan O'Connell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1046582&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Aidan O'Connell College Football Profile |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=2023 season=
O'Connell was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round with the 135th pick of the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Levi |date=April 29, 2023 |title=Raiders trade up to No. 135 to select QB Aidan O'Connell |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/aidan-o-connell-qb-purdue-raiders-trade-up-to-no-135-patriots |access-date=April 29, 2023 |website=Raiders.com}}
On October 1, 2023, O'Connell made his first career NFL start, filling in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Playing against the Los Angeles Chargers, he went 24-of-39 for 238 yards and had his first career rushing touchdown on a goal-line sneak. The Raiders lost 24–17 in his debut.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Levi |date=October 1, 2023 |title=What did rookie Aidan O'Connell learn in his first NFL start? |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/what-did-rookie-aidan-o-connell-learn-in-his-first-nfl-start-vs-chargers-week-4 |access-date=October 2, 2023 |website=Las Vegas Raiders |language=en-US}} On November 1, 2023, O'Connell was named the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.{{Cite web |last=Simmons |first=Myles |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Aidan O'Connell will replace Jimmy Garoppolo as Raiders starting QB |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/aidan-oconnell-will-replace-jimmy-garoppolo-as-raiders-starting-qb |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}} In Week 15, O'Connell threw four touchdown passes in a dominant 63–21 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.{{cite news |last=Edwards |first=Levi |title=Quick Snap: Raiders put up franchise record 63 points against Chargers |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/quick-snap-raiders-put-up-franchise-record-63-points-against-chargers |access-date=November 29, 2024 |work=Raiders.com |date=December 14, 2023}} During the Week 16 Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs, where despite his team winning 20–14, O'Connell went 9 of 21 in pass attempts for 62 yards, never completing a pass after the first quarter.{{Cite web |last=Skretta |first=Dave |date=December 25, 2023 |title=Raiders stun sloppy Chiefs with 2 defensive TDs in 20–14 victory on Christmas Day |url=https://news.yahoo.com/raiders-stun-sloppy-chiefs-2-211914570.html |access-date=December 25, 2023 |website=Yahoo! News |language=en-US}} O'Connell went 5–5 as a starter. He finished with 2,218 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns and 7 interceptions to go with a rushing touchdown.{{cite web | title=Aidan O'Connell 2023 Game Log | website=Pro Football Reference | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OConAi00/gamelog/2023/ | access-date=July 27, 2024}}
=2024 season=
Following a preseason quarterback competition with new free agent signing Gardner Minshew, O'Connell was named a backup to begin the season.{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2024 |title=Raiders name Gardner Minshew starting QB over Aidan O'Connell |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/raiders-name-gardner-minshew-starting-qb-over-aidan-oconnell |access-date=August 25, 2024 |website=Fox Sports}} After the Raiders began the season with a 2–3 record, O'Connell was named the starter on October 9.{{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Paul |date=October 9, 2024 |title=Raiders benching Gardner Minshew, name Aidan O'Connell QB1 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41702492/raiders-benching-gardner-minshew-name-aidan-oconnell-qb1 |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}} In his first start of the season, O'Connell passed for 227 yards, one touchdown, and one interception as the Raiders lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 32–13. Against the Los Angeles Rams on October 20, O'Connell suffered a fractured thumb and was later placed on injured reserve.{{cite news |last=Shook |first=Nick |title=Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell out 4–6 weeks with fractured thumb, headed to injured reserve |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-qb-aidan-oconnell-out-4-6-weeks-fractured-thumb-injured-reserve |access-date=October 21, 2024 |work=NFL.com |date=October 21, 2024}} After missing four games, the Raiders activated O'Connell to the 53-man roster on November 28, ahead of the team's Week 13 matchup against the Chiefs.{{cite news |title=Raiders activate QB Aidan O'Connell, place CB Jakorian Bennett and QB Gardner Minshew on Reserve/Injured list |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-activate-qb-aidan-o-connell-place-cb-jakorian-bennett-qb-gardner-minshew-on-the-reserve-injured-list |access-date=November 28, 2024 |work=Raiders.com |date=November 28, 2024}} In his return from injury, O'Connell produced the first 300-yard performance of his career, finishing with 340 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions, but miscommunication in the final minute resulted in a lost fumble as the Raiders lost 19–17.{{cite news |last=Skretta |first=Dave |title=Chiefs recover botched snap by Raiders in closing seconds, clinch playoff berth with 19–17 victory |url=https://apnews.com/article/raiders-chiefs-score-3570f241fd589939e3bbb28744e6aa06 |access-date=November 29, 2024 |work=Associated Press |date=November 29, 2024}} He sustained another injury in the team's Week 14 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he suffered a bone bruise to his knee,{{Cite web |last=Rapp |first=Timothy |title=Raiders Rumors: Aidan O'Connell's Knee Injury Diagnosed as Bone Bruise; Status TBD |url=https://nodereport.bleacherreport.com/articles/10146383-raiders-aidan-oconnell-carted-off-with-knee-injury-replaced-by-desmond-ridder#:~:text=Las%20Vegas%20Raiders%20quarterback%20Aidan,Jordan%20Schultz%20of%20Fox%20Sports. |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} before returning in Week 16 to end off the season with a record of 2–5.
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="9"| Passing ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Sacks ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Record|Record as a starting quarterback}} | {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} | {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} | {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} | {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} | {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest pass completion}} | {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} | {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} | {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} | {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} | {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest rushing attempt}} | {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Sck|Times sacked}} | {{abbr|SckY|Yards lost due to sacks}} | {{abbr|Fum|Fumbles}} | {{abbr|Lost|Fumbles lost}} |
| 2023 | LV
| 11 || 10 || 5–5 || 213 || 343 || 62.1 || 2,218 || 6.5 || 50 || 12 || 7 || 83.9 || 17 || 11 || 0.6 || 3 || 1 || 24 || 173 || 4 || 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | LV
| 9 || 7 || 2–5 || 154 || 243 || 63.4 || 1,612 || 6.6 || 58 || 8 || 4 || 86.7 || 21 || 30 || 1.4 || 13 || 1 || 10 || 82 || 2 || 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OConAi00.htm Career] || 20 || 17 || 7–10 || 367 || 586 || 62.6 || 3,830 || 6.5 || 58 || 20 || 11 || 85.1 || 38 || 41 || 1.1 || 13 || 2 || 34 || 255 || 6 || 4 |
Personal life
O'Connell is married to Jael O'Connell (née Johnson), who played volleyball at Purdue.{{Cite web |last=Auerbach |first=Nicole |date=August 30, 2022 |title=Aidan O'Connell, Purdue's elder statesman QB, sets sights on a season for the ages |url=https://theathletic.com/3548221/2022/08/30/aidan-oconnell-purdue-penn-state/?amp=1 |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=The Athletic}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=40138|espn=4260394|nfl=aidan-o-connell}}
- [https://www.raiders.com/team/players-roster/aidan-o-connell/ Las Vegas Raiders bio]
- [https://purduesports.com/sports/football/roster/aidan-o-connell/10914 Purdue Boilermakers bio]
{{Las Vegas Raiders roster navbox}}
{{Navboxes|title=|list=
{{Purdue Boilermakers quarterback navbox}}
{{Raiders2023DraftPicks}}
{{Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:OConnell, Aidan}}
Category:People from Long Grove, Illinois
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Purdue Boilermakers football players
Category:Players of American football from Lake County, Illinois