MOUNT GREENWOOD — As Pat O'Connor is working to make the Detroit Lions' 53-man roster, the NFL hopeful has committed to cutting his long hair at the end of the season.
O'Connor, a Mount Greenwood native, told ESPN that he will cut the hair that flows from the back of his football helmet and donate it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients.
"After it got really long, you just got to the point where you just don't want to cut it and just waste it," O'Connor said in a recent interview with ESPN staff writer Michael Rothstein.
"You can give it to a good cause and might as well just do that," said O'Connor, who played for St. Rita High School along with Kenny Golladay who was also selected by the Lions in the 2017 NFL Draft.
O'Connor was picked up in the seventh round — 250th overall. He doesn't know exactly which charity will receive his hair but said he plans to grow it out annually and give it to charity.
O'Connor began to grow his hair out while attending Eastern Michigan University. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman is the school's all-time sack leader (19.5) and tied for most games played ever (49) despite missing all of the 2015 season with a shoulder injury.
O'Connor also attended Mount Greenwood Elementary School and played football for St. Christina Parish. His father, Jim, is a Chicago firefighter.
In a Q-and-A interview for the Lion's website, the South Sider said his favorite athlete is Paul Konerko and his favorite food is pizza — specifically Milano's in Morgan Park and Palermo's in nearby Oak Lawn.
As for the long beard he grew after leaving St. Rita, O'Connor said he can't donate that so it will likely stay.
"I haven't seen my chin in probably like five years," he said.
