Dan Connor
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Career Summary
Dan Connor was a Penn State linebacker who played six NFL seasons and later became a coach.
Connor starred at Penn State before Carolina selected him in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played with Carolina, Dallas and the New York Giants.
He returned to Penn State in 2022 as a defensive analyst and became the Nittany Lions' linebackers coach in 2025.
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Early Life
Connor is from Wallingford, Pennsylvania.
The NFL and Penn State list Wallingford, Pennsylvania as Connor's hometown.
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High School
Connor attended Strath Haven High School in Pennsylvania.
Penn State identifies Connor as a former Strath Haven High School standout from Wallingford.
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College Career
Connor graduated as Penn State's all-time leading tackler with 419 stops.
Connor was a four-year letterman at Penn State from 2004 through 2007. He graduated as the program's all-time leading tackler with 419 stops.
He was a two-time first-team All-American and won the 2007 Chuck Bednarik Award.
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Path to the NFL
Carolina selected Connor in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
The Panthers selected Connor in the third round of the 2008 draft, 74th overall.
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NFL Career
Connor played 62 NFL games and recorded 184 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
Connor appeared in 62 regular-season NFL games for Carolina, Dallas and the Giants. NFL statistics credit him with 184 total tackles, one sack, two passes defended and one forced fumble.
His top season came in 2011, when he recorded 70 tackles in 15 games for Carolina.
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Career Accomplishments
Connor was a two-time All-American and the 2007 Chuck Bednarik Award winner at Penn State.
Connor's Penn State career included two first-team All-America honors and the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.
He also established the Penn State career tackles record with 419 stops.
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Playing Style
Connor was a productive inside linebacker whose game centered on tackling.
Connor's Penn State record was built on 419 career tackles. In his first NFL start, he recorded 13 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and a sack against the Giants.
His 2011 Panthers season included 75 tackles according to Carolina's team statistics.
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Legacy
Connor remains Penn State's all-time tackles leader and returned to the program as a coach.
Penn State identifies Connor as the school record holder with 419 career tackles. He returned to his alma mater in 2022 and now coaches its linebackers.
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Post-Career
Connor began coaching after his playing career and became Penn State's linebackers coach.
Connor coached at West Chester, Archbishop John Carroll and Widener before returning to Penn State as a defensive analyst in 2022. Penn State lists him as its linebackers coach beginning in 2025.
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Sources for this section
21999, 00-0026214, 1985-11-02, Dan Connor, Dan, Connor
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