Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell has revealed that the death of his father Jim is the reason for his prolonged absence from the team.
O’Connell, 28, has not been at practice all week in what, until now, had only been described as ‘personal’ reasons rather than an injury.
Now, though, all has become clear after the third-choice QB took to Instagram to reveal the heartbreaking loss suffered by his family.
‘It is with immense sadness that I share the passing of my Dad, Jim,’ he said, alongside a series of photos of himself with his father.
‘My Dad was a gift to me and to so many others. 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.
‘My family and I are heartbroken by this loss, and we are relying on the Lord for comfort and peace. We are incredibly thankful for the prayers, kindness, and support that have surrounded our family during this difficult time. We ask for continued prayers as we grieve, remember, and honor my Dad’s life and the impact he had.’
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell poses for a photo with his father Jim, who died this week
O’Connell, 28, has not been at practice all week and has now revealed the reason why
This season, the former Purdue signal-caller is third on the depth chart with the Raiders
No cause of death has yet been revealed, and it is unclear exactly when McConnell will return to the team.
He missed the win over the Chargers on Sunday and has not been present at the team’s practice facility all week.
‘Saying goodbye to him has been incredibly difficult for all of us,’ he added on Instagram. ‘But we are holding tightly to the promises of Scripture and trusting that Dad is at peace, finally and forever.’
O’Connell is in his fourth season in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders, after being selected out of Purdue in the fourth round of the 2023 Draft.
This season, he has been relegated to third-choice on the depth chart, behind starter Kirk Cousins and No 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
