NFL
St. Rita product wears shoes in honor of local charity during game with Tampa Bay Bucs
Gerri Neylon has never met Patrick O’Connor.
She hasn’t followed his football career, which includes starring at St. Rita and Eastern Michigan, being signed and waived by the Detroit Lions in 2017 and spending most of the next three seasons as a defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It’s not a shoo-in but it’s close that Neylon, however, was just as excited about O’Connor’s first career sack in Sunday’s 26-14 win over Minnesota. He tackled quarterback Kirk Cousins while wearing shoes honoring Neylon’s local charity.
It was the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats week, with players’ shoes dressed up to recognize worthwhile causes.
While O’Connor was pumped up about the sack — telling the media “it’s been a long four years coming and it was the best feeling ever” — Neylon also felt good about the result.
The registered nurse from Evergreen Park founded the charity Christmas Without Cancer. She couldn’t watch the play live because she was surprising a local family in need with gifts.
She recorded the game, saw the play and was happy because her organization was represented on O’Connor’s cleats.
“It’s the most exciting thing that has ever happened to us in the 17 years we have done this,” Neylon said. “It was super exciting.
“And when I saw the cleats, oh my God, they were awesome. We’ve never been recognized outside of our area. I would love to meet him and thank him in person.”
During the summer, Patrick’s father, Jim, participated in the organization’s Queen of Hearts fundraiser. And thing led to another.
One night, Neylon was making the rounds with raffle tickets and missed a chance to meet Patrick at St. James Place Pub in Oak Lawn. But Renee Copeland, the organization’s vice president, chatted with him, which led to Sunday’s game.
Christmas Without Cancer, an organization that started in 2003, provides gifts and necessities to area families dealing with cancer.
It’s also not the first time Christmas Without Cancer was connected with an NFL figure.
In 2013, Bears legend Mike Ditka and Evergreen Park Mayor James Sexton used a pair of hedge clippers to cut a red ribbon during a Binny’s Beverage Depot grand opening. That event raised close to $15,000 for the charity.
Meanwhile, in Florida, O’Connor is trying to make a name for himself with limited play after spending time on the practice squad.
In three years, he has nine career tackles. He has become a valuable member of the special teams, however, and recovered his own blocked punt on Sept. 27 against Denver in a 28-10 win. He was given a game ball by the team afterward.
Still, O’Connor won’t get Tom Brady-like headlines.
At this point, the future Hall of Fame quarterback is in the spotlight while O’Connor is more in the flashlight, but he’s enjoying his time.
“I took advantage of my opportunities,” O’Connor said. “I started making plays on special teams. I would get in on a few plays on defense here or there. People got tired and I would go in for two plays.
“I got the opportunities, and I made the best of them.”
Sack or no sack, O’Connor picked up a fan Sunday in Neylon.
“I’m most impressed that he is a player from Chicago who chose us,” she said. “I love St. Rita. We have volunteers from St. Rita, including one who was classmates with Patrick. It warmed my heart.”
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