Pat O'Donnell
refer to caption
O'Donnell with the Chicago Bears in 2014
Personal information
Born: (1991-02-22) February 22, 1991
Lake Worth Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Palm Beach Central
(Wellington, Florida)
College:Cincinnati (2009–2012)
Miami (FL) (2013)
Position:Punter
NFL Draft:2014 / Round: 6 / Pick: 191
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Punts:616
Punting yards:27,764
Average punt:45.1
Longest punt:75
Inside 20:224
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Patrick Michael O'Donnell (born February 22, 1991) is an American football punter who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, where he served as the team's punter for eight seasons. He played college football at Cincinnati and Miami.

Early life

O'Donnell attended Palm Beach Central High School, and lettered three times in football and track for the Broncos.[1] In high school, he averaged 45.1 yards on punts; He also played kicker, having a 95 percent touchback rate when kicking off, along with making seven field goals as a senior.[2] O'Donnell also played linebacker and tight end.[3]

College career

O'Donnell was ranked a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, and committed to the University of Cincinnati on December 29, 2008.[4] He made his debut with the Bearcats in 2009 as a true freshman against Southeast Missouri State, and appeared in three games before suffering an injury, causing him to redshirt.[3] O'Donnell served as starting punter in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. In the latter season, the Bearcats led the nation in punting average, while O'Donnell averaged 43.8 yards per punt, while leading the nation with 17 punts of 50 yards or more. Additionally, O'Donnell served as kicker on kickoffs, averaging 64.2 yards per kick. O'Donnell ended 2011 with first team all-Big East honors, and was a semi-finalist for the Ray Guy Award.[5] In 2012, O'Donnell punted an average of 41.8 yards, and was named to second team all-Big East.[3][6]

In 2013, O'Donnell transferred to the University of Miami, citing interests to remain close to family, as his father was suffering from cancer.[3] O'Donnell ended his career with Cincinnati with a 42.6 career punting average.[7] O'Donnell graduated from Cincinnati with a degree in organizational leadership[3] at the end of April, before transferring to Miami as a graduate student.[7] With the Hurricanes, O'Donnell served as punter, kickoff specialist, and holder. O'Donnell recorded a school-record 47.1 punting average,[2] was named first-team all-ACC and the Hurricanes' Special Teams MVP at the end of the 2013 season.[8] O'Donnell concluded his college career with a 43.5-yard punting average.[9]

College statistics

Season GP Punting
PuntsYdsAvgLngI2050+
2009 3726537.95021
2010 12522,17841.961166
2011 13632,76043.8762617
2012 13592,46741.8652310
2013 13532,49847.1711123
Career5423410,16843.5767857

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 4+1⁄8 in
(1.93 m)		 220 lb
(100 kg)		 32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		4.64 s1.62 s2.73 s30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		23 reps
All values from NFL Combine[10]

At the NFL Scouting Combine, O'Donnell recorded 23 repetitions on the bench press, better than 19 running backs, 21 defensive linemen (including number one draft pick Jadeveon Clowney),[2][11] and all 37 wide receivers invited.[2]

Chicago Bears

O'Donnell with the Chicago Bears, 2018

O'Donnell was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the 191st overall pick in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft,[12] the only punter selected in the draft,[13] and the first punter selected by the Bears since Todd Sauerbrun in 1996.[14][15][8] He signed a four-year contract on May 13, 2014.[9]

In his rookie season in 2014, O'Donnell finished with 71 punts for 3,107 net yards for a 43.8 average.[16] In the 2015 season, he punted 70 times for 3097 yards[17] in 2015, 28 of which landed in the red zone with only four touchbacks.[18] He ended the year with a net punting average of 39.6, the second-highest in team history since the stat began to be recorded in 1966.[19]

In 2016, he finished with 68 punts for 2,994 net yards for a 44.0 average.[20]

In Week 5 of the 2017 season against the Minnesota Vikings, he threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Benny Cunningham on a fake.[21] Later in the year, O'Donnell served as kickoff specialist against the San Francisco 49ers while kicker Cairo Santos was nursing a groin injury.[22] O'Donnell finished 2017 with 87 punts for 4,097 net yards for a 47.0 average.[23]

On March 15, 2018, O'Donnell signed a one-year contract extension with the Bears worth $1.5 million.[24] After his contract expired following the 2018 season, he received a two-year extension on March 18, 2019.[25]

Early in the 2019 season, O'Donnell served as kickoff specialist for the second time in Week 3 against the Washington Redskins with Eddy Piñeiro treating a knee injury. O'Donnell was also the backup kicker (with backup quarterback Chase Daniel serving as his holder), though Piñeiro kicked through his injury in the game.[26] O'Donnell ended 2019 with a net punting average of 40.7 yards, setting the team record previously held by Adam Podlesh (40.4 in 2011).[27]

O'Donnell signed a one-year contract extension with the Bears on March 12, 2021.[28]

As of 2021's NFL offseason, O'Donnell held at least two Bears franchise records, including:[29]

  • Most Yards / Punt (career): 45.0
  • Most Yards / Punt (season): 46.98 (2017)

Green Bay Packers

On March 18, 2022, O'Donnell signed a two-year contract with the Green Bay Packers.[30] He was named NFC Special Teams player of the week for his week 3 performance against the Buccaneers in a 14–12 victory, having seven punts with the longest 63 yards and an average of 48.4. Five of them landed inside the 20-yard line, the most for any of the team's punters in a game since 1976.[31]

On August 28, 2023, O’Donnell was released by the Packers.[32]

Atlanta Falcons

On October 28, 2023, O'Donnell was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad, and elevated for Week 8.[33] He was released on October 30, then re-signed on December 22.[34] He was signed to the active roster on December 22.[35] O'Donnell was released again on December 26.[36]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team GP Punting
PuntsYardsAvgLngBlk
2014CHI 16713,10743.8610
2015CHI 15703,09744.2721
2016CHI 16682,99444.0671
2017CHI 16874,08747.0690
2018CHI 16622,79145.0650
2019CHI 16803,58644.8751
2020CHI 16642,92445.7641
2021CHI 17622,86546.2720
2022GB 17522,31344.5722
Career14561627,76445.1756
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Postseason

Year Team GP Punting
PuntsYardsAvgLngBlk
2018CHI 1624340.5490
2020CHI 1728140.1490
Career21352440.3490
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Personal life

O'Donnell was born the oldest of 2 children to Terrance and Michele O'Donnell. His sister, Megan O'Donnell, was an All-American rower and National Champion at Nova Southeastern University. His cousin, Christopher Bordino, was a member of the Navy Midshipmen track team.[37]

In February 2019, he became engaged to Shelby Etter. In March 2020, Etter and O'Donnell got married in Miami.

References

  1. ↑ Finley, Patrick. "Ex-Miami, Palm Beach Central punter Pat O'Donnell earning fans, nickname with Bears". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mayer, Larry (May 15, 2014). "O'Donnell to reunite with Bostic". Chicago Bears. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Mayer, Larry (May 10, 2014). "Bears choose punter in Round 6". Chicago Bears. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ "PATRICK O'DONNELL". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Pat O'Donnell Named To Ray Guy Award Watch List". Cincinnati Bearcats. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Pat O'Donnell College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  7. 1 2 Groeschen, Tom (April 16, 2013). "All-league punter O'Donnell transferring". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Bears Pick Punter Pat O'Donnell in 6th Round". WBBM-TV. May 10, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Neveau, James (May 13, 2014). "Bears Sign Ferguson, O'Donnell to Four-Year Contracts". WMAQ-TV. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Pat O'Donnell Draft Profile". National Football League. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ Cash, Rana (February 24, 2014). "Jadeveon Clowney bench presses less than a punter at NFL Combine". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  12. ↑ "2014 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ Mayer, Larry (May 17, 2014). "Rookie punter shows strong leg". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Chicago Bears All-Time Draft History". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2014 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Pat O'Donnell 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Net Punting Average Leaders – All Players". ESPN. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  18. ↑ Mayer, Larry (January 22, 2016). "Special teams in NFL Rankings". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  19. ↑ Mayer, Larry (February 15, 2016). "Position focus on special teams". Chicago Bears. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Pat O'Donnell 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears". Pro-Football-Reference.com. October 9, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  22. ↑ Williams, Charean (December 4, 2017). "Bears sign Mike Nugent, place Cairo Santos on injured reserve". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Pat O'Donnell 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Bears re-sign Pat O'Donnell". WindyCityGridiron.com. March 15, 2018.
  25. ↑ Finley, Patrick (March 18, 2019). "Bears bring back punter Pat O'Donnell for 2 years, $4 million". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  26. ↑ Lieser, Jason (September 23, 2019). "Bears' Eddy Pineiro kicks through pain vs. Redskins, vows to be ready for Vikings". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  27. ↑ Mayer, Larry (December 29, 2019). "Quick Hits: Pineiro finishes with a flourish, Robinson continues to shine". Chicago Bears. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  28. ↑ Mayer, Larry (March 12, 2021). "Roster Move: O'Donnell agrees to 1-year deal". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Chicago Bears Career Kicking & Punting Leaders". Pro Football Reference.
  30. ↑ "Packers sign P Pat O'Donnell". Packers.com. March 18, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Pat O'Donnell named NFC special teams player of the week". ProFootballTalk. September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Packers release P Pat O'Donnell". Packers.com. August 28, 2022.
  33. ↑ Bair, Scott (October 28, 2023). "Bradley Pinion added to injury report, Falcons designate two practice squad elevations". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  34. ↑ "Falcons sign P Pat O'Donnell to practice squad, cut LB Frank Ginda". Falcons Wire. USA Today. December 22, 2023.
  35. ↑ Urben, Matt. "Falcons sign P Pat O'Donnell to practice squad, cut LB Frank Ginda". Falcons Wire. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  36. ↑ Alfano, Jonathan. "Falcons Sign Linebacker, Cut Punter To Kick Off Week 17 vs. Bears". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Pat O'Donnell". Cincinnati Bearcats. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
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