No one shapes your life quite like a parent does – and amidst personal tragedy, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell made that clear with a heartfelt tribute to his father.
O'Connell shared the unfortunate news of his father Jim's passing late on Thursday night on Instagram. With the reveal, he also crafted a heartfelt tribute to his father for the post.
"My Dad was a gift to me and to so many others," O'Connell wrote. "All who were fortunate enough to know him can testify to the great man he was. He impacted countless lives, and those who knew him were better for it."
"Rest in peace, Dad. We love you and will miss you more than words can say.”
Aidan O’Connell announced on IG that his father, Jim has passed away. :( Awful news, explains
his absence from the team, sending prayers to him & his family 🤍🕊️
— Brandy Flores (@_brandyflores) September 25, 2026
Aidan O'Connell's recent absence explained by his father's passing
O'Connell missed practice and was absent from the team facilities last week, and also missed the team's victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last week – at the time, reportedly due to family issues. Now, that absence is explained more fully, as we know O'Connell and his family were dealing with tragedy.
O'Connell, now 28, lost his older brother, Sean O'Connell, in 2022 during his senior season at Purdue. Several of O'Connell's teammates, including Maxx Crosby, Brock Bowers, and Jack Bech, shared their condolences on the post announcing his father's death.
O'Connell is in his fourth season with the Raiders, where he is currently serving as the team's third-string signal caller behind Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza. He has played in 21 games and started 17 of those for the Raiders, posting a 7-10 record as a starter.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell shares heartfelt tribute to late father
