Kevin O'Connell (American football)

Kevin O'Connell
San Francisco 49ers
Position: Offensive assistant coach
Personal information
Date of birth: (1985-05-25) May 25, 1985
Place of birth: Knoxville, Tennessee
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school: La Costa Canyon
College: San Diego State
NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 3 / Pick: 94
Career history
As player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-MWC (2007)
Player stats at PFR

Kevin William O'Connell (born May 25, 1985) is a former American football coach and former player who is a coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for San Diego State University. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and has also been a member of the NFL's Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers.

Early years

The son of a former Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent, O'Connell spent his childhood years in Carlsbad, California, where he attended La Costa Canyon High School.[1] At La Costa Canyon, O'Connell lettered in both football and basketball. In football, as a junior, he passed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. As a senior, he was named his Team's Most Valuable Player, and selected to All-League, All-North County, and All-San Diego teams. In basketball, he was a two-year letterman, and a teammate of Arizona standout Chase Budinger.[2] O'Connell graduated from La Costa Canyon in 2003.

College career

O'Connell graduated from San Diego State University in December 2007 with a degree in political science.[3][4] At SDSU, where he was a four-year team captain, he started 21 games, the sixth-most among SDSU quarterbacks, and ranked first in school history in career rushing yards and second in career rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks; in 2007 he led the team in rushing yards. Passing, he ranked tenth in yardage, eighth in attempts, and seventh in completions.[1]

O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game.[3] He was the Kai team quarterback in the 2008 Hula Bowl, where he led the offense and was one of the Kai team's only bright spots. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[5]

Professional career

Just prior to being drafted, San Diego sports writer Nick Canepa described O'Connell as having:

“ all the equipment needed to fit in the modern NFL quarterback toolbox. He's 6-feet-6 and weighs 235 pounds. As Don Coryell often said, 'he runs like a deer.' He has plenty of arm. He's smart. He comes from a great background. He has a wonderful personality. He's a leader.[3] ”

At the 2008 NFL Combine, O'Connell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds; only University of San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson had a faster time.

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots selected O'Connell with their third pick (94th overall) of the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. O'Connell rushed for a touchdown in the 2008 preseason against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter, in a game the Patriots eventually lost 19-14. He made his NFL debut on September 21, 2008 in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, throwing his first four career passes and completing three.

O'Connell was waived by the Patriots on August 30, 2009, two days after a preseason game in which starting quarterback Tom Brady was injured, and, in the second half, O'Connell threw two interceptions and only threw 3 completions on 10 attempts. The Patriots gave no explanation for releasing O'Connell, who was in competition with veteran quarterback Andrew Walter, signed after his release from the Oakland Raiders, and undrafted free agent rookie Brian Hoyer of Michigan State.

Detroit Lions

O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2009.

New York Jets

The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009.[6]

He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[7]

On August 31, 2010, New York would release O'Connell.[8] Following his departure, O'Connell found that had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason.[9] The injury will require surgery.

Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. He had been placed on the injured reserve list.[10] He was later released again on July 29, 2011.[11]

Miami Dolphins

On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3.

Second stint with the Jets

O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[12]

San Diego Chargers

O'Connell was signed by the San Diego Chargers on July 29, 2012 to serve as an emergency back-up in the Chargers' practices with Charlie Whitehurst suffering an injury and Kyle Boller announcing his retirement from the league.[13] He was released on August 12, 2012.

Statistics

Year Team GP GS Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
2008 NE 2 0 4 6 66.7 23 3.8 0 0 73.6 3 -6 -2.0 0

Source:[14]

Coaching career

Cleveland Browns

On February 17, 2015, it was announced that O'Connell was named to the position of quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns for the 2015 NFL season.[15]

San Francisco 49ers

O'Connell was hired to the offensive staff of the San Francisco 49ers on February 26, 2016.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 SDSU Aztecs Biography for Kevin O'Connell
  2. ↑ Gasper, Christopher L. (September 28, 2008). "O'Connell Could be Ready in a Snap". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 Canepa, Nick (February 12, 2008). "O'Connell's Shot at NFL Looks Legit". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  4. ↑ Schrotenboer, Brent (2007-11-29). "Offensive Evolution Under Long Has Come to Pass for the Aztecs". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  5. ↑ "Kevin O'Connell Shines in Hula Bowl". Associated Press. 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  6. ↑ Kowalski, Tom (February 22, 2010). "Lions have seven picks in upcoming draft". MLive.com. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  7. ↑ Florio, Mike (September 20, 2009). "Kevin O'Connell, team captain?". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  8. ↑ Cimini, Rich (August 31, 2010). "Jets cut QB Kevin O'Connell". ESPN New York. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  9. ↑ Star-Ledger Staff (September 3, 2010). "Jets lose confidence in rookie running back Joe McKnight". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  10. ↑ Star-Ledger Staff (September 8, 2010). "Jets re-sign Kevin O'Connel". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  11. ↑ Mehta, Manish (July 29, 2011). "Jets release backup QB Mark Brunell, still waiting on Nnamdi Asomugha". New York Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Archived from the original on July 29, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  12. ↑ Vrentas, Jenny (4 September 2011). "Jets awarded four players off waivers, including QB Kevin O'Connell; cut Aaron Maybin". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  13. ↑ Bair, Scott (29 July 2012). "Chargers Notes: Former LCC, Aztecs QB O'Connell signed as emergency fill-in". North County Times. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Kevin O'Connell". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  15. ↑ Gribble, Andrew (February 17, 2015). "Kevin O'Connell hired to coach QBs as Browns round out offensive staff". ClevelandBrowns.com. Cleveland Browns. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  16. ↑ Jackson, Zac (February 26, 2016). "49ers adding O'Connell to offensive staff". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
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