Packers snap 38-year-old drought after releasing 2022 starter

The Green Bay Packers have made the first roster cut after their final postseason game and it's a rather surprising one: veteran punter Pat O'Donnell. O'Donnell is a nine-year veteran that has started all but one game since entering the league back in 2014. He started all 17 games for the Packers in 2022, but […]

Evan Winter — NFL Managing Editor

Aug 28, 2023 2:33 PM EDT

Green Bay Packers place kicker Mason Crosby is embraced by punter Pat O'Donnell (16) after kicking the game-winning field goal during overtime during in their game Sunday, November 13, 2022 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-28 in overtime. MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Green Bay Packers have made the first roster cut after their final postseason game and it's a rather surprising one: veteran punter Pat O'Donnell.

O'Donnell is a nine-year veteran that has started all but one game since entering the league back in 2014. He started all 17 games for the Packers in 2022, but was in a fierce battle with Daniel Whelan, who hasn't played a single snap in the NFL. Whelan was on the New Orleans Saints roster last year before they waived him on July 26. He is set to make $750k in 2023.

While it's rough news for O'Donnell, it's historical for Whelan. If he remains the lone punter on the roster -which it's assumed he will- then he will be the first Irish player to play in the NFL in 38 years, per Packer Report's Daire Carragher. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, per the team's website.

Per Packers.com, Whelan "played for the D.C. Defenders in 2023, earning All-XFL honors after ranking No. 3 in the league in both punting average (45.6) and punts inside the 20 (11)…Appeared in all 10 regular-season games for the Defenders, punting 29 times for 1,322 yards (45.6 avg.) with just two touchbacks and a long of 66 yards…Also appeared in two playoff contests, punting four times for 215 yards (53.8 avg.) with two punts inside the 20 and a long of 64 yards."

It's another move that is anchored in youth for the Packers. They easily have one of the NFL's youngest teams and it just got younger after releasing the 32-year-old O'Donnell in favor of the 24-year-old Whelan.