AO #12

Aidan O'Connell

Quarterback · Purdue

A Purdue record-setter turned fourth-round steal, Aidan O'Connell has battled injuries throughout his young Raiders career, including a fractured wrist that wiped out most of his 2025 season.

Aidan O'Connell arrived in Las Vegas as a polished, accurate passer out of Purdue and quickly proved capable of starting NFL games. Injuries have repeatedly interrupted his momentum, and 2025 was no exception as he spent much of the year rehabbing before returning in a backup role late in the season.

★ Purdue's all-time leader in completion percentage and passer rating

★ Two-time second-team All-Big Ten

Path to the league

O'Connell started 26 games over five seasons at Purdue from 2018 to 2022, finishing as the program's all-time leader in completion percentage (66.7) and passer rating (141.8) while throwing for 9,219 yards and 65 touchdowns. He earned two-time second-team All-Big Ten recognition. The Raiders traded up to select him in the fourth round (135th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

O'Connell made his first career start in October 2023, filling in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo, and has since started 17 games for the Raiders. Through 2025, he has completed 62.0 percent of his passes for 3,932 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with a 7-10 career record as a starter.

2025 season recap

O'Connell fractured his wrist in the Raiders' final preseason game and opened the regular season on injured reserve. He was activated on November 19 and served as the team's third-string quarterback behind Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett for most of the year, appearing in just one game, a Week 18 outing against Kansas City in which he threw for 102 yards.