Patrick O'Connell

Patrick O'Connell (born December 31, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Montana Grizzlies and was signed by the team as an undrafted free agent in .

Early life O'Connell was born on December 31, 1998, in Kalispell, Montana. He grew up focusing on playing baseball. He attended Glacier High School, and played football, basketball and baseball: he was baseball team captain for three years, and also captained the football and basketball teams in his senior year. He helped his teams reach five state championships in his tenure at Glacier, including winning the state football title in 2014 and the basketball title in 2017. He committed to play college football and college baseball for the Mary Marauders. He redshirted his first season at Montana and was named the defensive scout team player of the year. He moved his way up the depth chart, and midway through the 2019 season, became a starter for Montana at linebacker. As a junior in 2021, he broke out, and became a top NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) player, recording 105 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss and 14 sacks while being named first-team All-Big Sky Conference and first-team All-American, additionally finishing third in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the best defensive player in the FCS. O'Connell ended his stint at Montana being fourth all-time in school history for tackles for loss, and placed sixth in sacks; he was invited to the Hula Bowl to conclude his collegiate career.

After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, O'Connell was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. He was second on the team in preseason for tackles with 17, but was released at the final roster cuts, subsequently being re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for the team's Week 14 game against the San Francisco 49ers but was inactive for the game. He was signed to the team's active roster on December 30, 2023. He made his NFL debut the following day, on his 25th birthday, recording a tackle. It was the only game he played in the season. He was promoted to the active roster on November 27.

On August 26, 2025, O'Connell was waived by the Seahawks as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on November 26. He played in Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 win by the Seattle Seahawks over the New England Patriots. He had one tackle in the game.