He also added the first receiving touchdown of his career in the fourth quarter, catching a 38-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham in garbage time during the Patriots' 450 shutout. Has played in 53 games (four starts) over his four-year NFL career (Patriots 2019-21; Steelers 2022), Has averaged 22.6 yards per kickoff return (39 returns for 880 yards) and 12.0 yards per punt return (74 returns for 889 yards) over his career, His 12.0 yards/punt return would rank sixth in NFL history, but the Leagueuses 75 punt returns to qualify for the NFL record (which is 12.8 yards/punt return by George McAfee, Chicago, 1940-41, 45-50), Led the NFL with a 17.3-yard punt return average (20 returns for 346 yards and one TD) in 2020, which was the highest return average in New England history and the second-highest in the NFL since 1970, Earned several accolades in 2020, including Associated Press First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Weekly All-NFL Team, PFWA All-AFC Team and Sporting News All-Pro, Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 13 of 2020 at L.A. Chargers when he scored on a 70-yard punt return and had a 61-yard return, First player in New England history with two punt returns of at least 60 yards in a single game, Also registered a 38-yard TD reception at L.A. Chargers, which made him the fourth player in Patriots history with a punt return TD and TD catch in the same game, Has caught 14 passes for 180 yards and one TD and rushed 14 times for 71 yards, Made NFL debut in Week 1 of 2019 (vs. Pittsburgh), Made NFL starting debut in Week 8 of 2020 (at Buffalo), Played in 16 regular-season games (two starts), Returned three kickoffs for 46 yards (15.3 average) and eight punts for 55 yards (6.9 average), Caught five passes for 53 yards and rushed eight times for 39 yards, Broke off an 18-yard run in Week 2 vs. New England, the longest of his career, Reached a career-high in receiving yards (39) in Week 11 vs. Cincinnati, including a season-high 31-yard reception, Primarily used as a punt returner and on kickoffs with occasional snaps at wide receiver, Caught two passes for 31 yards; rushed for nine yards on one carry, Returned 18 kickoffs for 416 yards (23.1 yards/return), Returned 26 punts for 309 yards (11.9 yards/return), His 11.9 yards/punt return finished tied for second in the NFL, Returned two punts for 30 yards vs. N.J. Months after he picked up shifts as a floor supervisor to make ends meet while pursuing his NFL dream, there is Gunner Olszewski. He didnt look like much," Bolte recalled. Less than 30 minutes later, he rounded the stands corner with a cart packed with popcorn, candy, hot dogs and assorted beverages. "How old are you?". Starting left guard Joe Thuney used the word "explosive" to describe Harris' running style, as he is tough to bring down. He took a toss left for 7 yards, and later caught his first pass for 13. In true Olszewski form, he flew to Minnesota sporting torn jeans, cowboy boots and a worn white tank top. Coach, this is the New England Patriots.. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. A post shared by Gunner Olszewski (@gunnerolszewski). WebPittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Gunner Olszewski makes a diving catch after the ball ricochets off a defender's helmet. He kind of looks like a suburban dad who's heading outside to mow the lawn. The punt returner role is a little more complicated as it serves a greater purpose. He is from Alvin, Texas, a town of around 27,000 people, located about 25 miles from Houston, and home of Hall of Fame baseball player Nolan Ryan, as well as Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and, of course, Olszewski. Midway through a three-game series at Oklahoma City University, the tireless Texan tapped a grounder to first base and flew down the line to force a close play. His efforts in 2020 earned him Associated Press First Team All-Pro and Sporting News All-Pro honors, as well as being named to the Pro Football Weekly All-NFL Team and Pro Football Writers of America All-AFC Team. This, Bolte explains, is how you cultivate success. Boltes willingness to share Olzewski with the schools baseball program helped secure his commitment. So the coach tossed Olszewski his keys and gave him an order: Take my truck, run to Walmart, fill a cart and bring it back.. THE BEST 10 Tattoo near Fredericksburg, VA - Yelp [9] On May 23, 2019, after the retirement of Jared Veldheer gave the Patriots a roster opening, they signed Olszewski to an undrafted free agent contract. Its hard to enlighten anyone about their blindspots, let alone obstinate 18-year-olds. 3. New league weeks start every Thursday with TNF kickoff. Gunner Olszewskis future with Patriots uncertain one year after Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Theyd paid less attention to Olzewski and BSUs prospects than in years past. If New England decided to give him the original round tender, he would be factored into the formula. Gunner Olszewski - Wikipedia To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Gunner Olszewski was brought in to be the kick returner and was replaced by Steven Sims. His grandfather was a native Minnesotan, and the campus lay hours from where his older brother, EJ, played college football in Nebraska. Bill Belichick joins KJZ and breaks down what he has seen among the Patriots quarterbacks. Gunner Olszewski was born on November 26, 1996, in Alvin, Texas. The pitchers right cleat sank straight into his left forearm. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Gunner Olszewski - Pittsburgh Steelers An unprecedented move by Belichick, as cold and calculating an evaluator in the league. Stock Report: Whose stock is rising, and falling, after Rounds 2-7. 9 in white. 5. Because scouts get it wrong. There was Olszewski, starting at wide receiver for New England. As the calendar turned to March, Bolte found smiling more difficult. Gunner Olszewski: The second-year it seems to be his way of deflecting attention away from how far along he is in the process of having a controversial tattoo The Patriots had the option to tender Olszewski and chose not to, giving up the ability to match any offer he may receive. The lessons of his rise from Alvin to Bemidji and now Foxborough have not yet been swallowed by public image or media myth. And as the draft process closed, outside interest began to fade all together. Former All-Pro punt returner Gunner Olszewski is the latest former Patriots player to be on the move in free agency. Olszewski, a 23-year-old Texas native, was an undrafted free agent for the Patriots last year. Three show Edelman being inpretty good shape, and the fourth picture shows the receiving group of Edelman, Jakobi Meyers, Damiere Byrd, N'Keal Harry and Gunner Olszewski. All rights reserved (About Us). 4. McCourty has passed on similar wisdom to his current teammates. It is unlikely that New England would risk the health of Stevenson in that role, while Taylors spot on the roster is anything but certain. July 31, 2020 / 1:18 PM For a time, Olszewski sat with him on the leagues curb. Everybody in our program knew, Wilcox said. 50 and every subsequent selection/undrafted free agent following in line -- 51, 52, 53 etc. The coach thought Chicago might move on him. 3 options for the Steelers with Myles Jack headed into 2023, 3 options for the Steelers with Mitch Trubisky headed into 2023, 3 options for the Steelers with Ahkello Witherspoon headed into 2023, Steelers Free Agent Tracker: Keeping tabs on players staying, and leaving, Updating Steelers depth charts after Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Coming off a 2021 season that saw them return to the playoffs but eventually come up short on wild card weekend, the New England Patriots have a long list of to-dos this offseason. Luckily for Bolte, Olszewski felt drawn to Bemidji. Why the change? Real deserves to be shared. Olszewskis interview went so well management agreed to work around his training schedule. Well if you go to jail, coach, Ill come visit you.. He hadnt heard from Bolte yet whether he would perform for scouts at the University of Minnesotas Pro Day in late March or the lesser-attended Division II showcase the following day. But with a look like that, it's safe to say that he caught his quarterback's attention on what was likely their first meeting. Other than a 3-for-5 effort in full-team, end-of-practice field goal work Monday, Rohrwasser hasn't done any kicking in front of the assembled media. His performance in 2020 when he led the NFL with a punt return average of 17.3 yards earned him a first-team All-Pro selection. In this industry, a keg will blow and youve got to run food and still have a smile on your face with customer service," Peters said. 4. [1], Olszewski was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. Olszewski is one of the most productive punt returners in football, which might make him an attractive target to some teams in need of help in this area. Cody Davis: The veteran free-agent signing is the new Nate Ebner as a core special-teamer. Despite the troubling uncertainty he had caused, Olszewski couldnt fault Krause. In the meantime, Olszewski and two Bemidji State coaches enjoyed a midnight trip to the emergency room. Then Wolden stepped forward and had his picture taken next to the new mural depicting the greatest player in Bemidji State football history. According to a source, both scouts attended Minnesotas Pro Day and approached him about transitioning to wide receiver. And its how on that day he made the football world turn for a minute, look and say: Here comes Gunner Olszewski. It doesnt matter if youre 5-10 and play at Bemidji State, Bolte says. Now Bellew needed him to keep the concessions running. Other options to return kicks include J.J. Taylor and Rhamondre Stevenson, both of whom served in that role during training camp. WebBest Tattoo in Fredericksburg, VA - Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival, Figure 8 Ink Studios, Heart And Soul Tattoo Company, Black Horse Tattoo Studio, Human Canvas Tattoo, Jets, Registered a career-long 37-yard kickoff return vs. Tennessee on Nov. 28, Saw action in 13 regular-season games with two starts, Primarily used as a punt returner and on kickoffs with occasional starts at wide receiver, Caught five passes for 62 yards and one TD; rushed for 23 yards on five carries, Returned 18 kickoffs for 418 yards (23.2 yards/return), Returned 20 punts for 346 yards (17.3 yards/return), His 17.3 yards/punt return not only led the NFL, but it was the highest return average in New England history and the second-highest in the NFL since 1970, Fourth player in franchise history to lead the League in punt return average, Earned several accolades, including Associated Press First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Weekly All-NFL Team, PFWA All-AFC Team and Sporting News All-Pro, Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 13 at L.A. Chargers, His 145 punt return yards were the second-most every in franchise history, Scored on a 70-yard punt return TD and had a 61-yard return, Became the first player in New England history with two punt returns of at least 60 yards in a single game, Registered a 38-yard TD reception, which made him the fourth player in Patriots history with a punt return TD and TD catch in the same game, Suffered an injury during training camp and was placed on Injured Reserve parior to the start of the regular season (missed the first three games of the campaign), Made his first NFL start at wide receiver at Buffalo on Nov. 1, Returned two punts for a total of 67 yards in the win vs. Arizona on Nov. 29, including a then career-long 58 yards in the second half, Made the 53-man roster as a rookie free agent, Saw action in eight regular-season games before being placed on Injured Reserve on Nov. 19, Returned 20 punts for 179 yards (9.0 yards/return), Made his NFL debut on Sept. 8 vs. Pittsburgh (returned two punts for 35 yards), Played in 42 games at Bemidji State (2015-18), Played defensive back throughout college career before making the switch to wide receiver in pursuit of an NFL career, Registered 310 tackles (183 solo), 40 passes defensed, 13 interceptions, nine tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 1.0 sack, Averaged 29.7 yards per kickoff return (11 returns for 327 yards) and 13.4 yards per punt return (923 yards on 69 returns) over his career, Named 2018 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, Named 2018 AFCA DII All-America First Team, Three-time NSIC North Division All-Conference First Team, Voted Bemidji State's Defensive and Special Teams MVP, Played baseball at Bemidji State before an injury sidelined him during his junior season and focus shifted to football, Played in 91 games (91 starts) and batted .316 with 18 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 53 RBI, 60 runs scored and 30 stolen bases (in 37 attempts), Attended Alvin High School (Alvin, Texas), Two-sport athlete, earning two varsity letters in both football and baseball, Two-time First-Team all-district safety and holds the school record in tackles in a season (150) as well as career tackles (270) and career interceptions (seven), Forced six fumbles and returned three punts for TDs as a senior, Father, Eric, was a minor league baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves organization. He takes the field with WR Will Hastings (5-10, 174). [16] He was activated on October 5, 2020, before the team's Week 4 game against Kansas City; because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the minimum stay on IR for the 2020 season was reduced to three games. The untold details of his journey reveal how an indomitable, undersized Texan could turn minimal high school recruiting attention into a decorated college career; how he could force two Patriots scouts to put him on Bill Belichicks radar; how he could back Belichick, the greatest coach in NFL history, into an audible minutes before the NFLs roster cut deadline. Olszewski spent three seasons with the New England Patriots after signing with them as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft. Led the league in yards per punt return (17.3). Has played in 53 games (four starts) over his four-year NFL career (Patriots 2019-21; Steelers 2022) Has averaged 22.6 yards per kickoff return (39 returns for 880 Void in ONT. Soon enough, most teams were sending curious scouts through Bemidji. By seasons end, Olszewski led the team with seven interceptions, made the all-conference first team and was named Newcomer of the Year. No matter where he was used, however, the ball only rarely came his way: Olszewski finished the season with a mere two catches on three targets for a combined 31 yards, he also had a 9-yard carry. Also, by disabling these cookies you will also disable banner ads served by Google Adsense on this website.. For more information about these items, view our complete privacy policy.Read More, To see the rest of the Gunner Olszewski's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. At the end of the day, it doesnt really matter how it happened," he says. After earning All-Pro honors in 2020, Olszewski was in a rather comfortable situation heading into his third training camp: he was a relatively safe bet to make New Englands 53-man roster again. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. As for the long sleeves, it seems to be his way of deflecting attention away from how far along he is in the process of having a controversial tattoo removed. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. People are drawn to him.. This is what youve got the be able to do to move on and hone your skills., And in a small New England town south of Boston, where the football dreams of a region rest and are realized, stands the man himself. Olszewskis football journey is not necessarily unique per se, but it is still an entertaining tale of perseverance. "He just did everything with ease.. A look at whos stock is climbing and whos is dipping after the Steelers selections on Days 2 & 3. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Cam's alarm clock: Quarterback Cam Newton's work to create connections with teammates and his early arrival to the facility each day to attack workouts are two things that have stood out behind the scenes to members of the Patriots organization. No mercy. Gunner Olszewski signed a 2 year, $4,200,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a $1,235,000 signing bonus, $1,235,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,100,000. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. A week before he started at Tennessee, Olszewski logged a quiet NFL debut on Aug. 8 if you dont count the running back carry. 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? Bolte found himself confronted by the same quandary hed bailed Wilcox out of years earlier. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. [10] The three-year deal had a $2,500 signing bonus. Meyers filled in for an injured Olszewski sporadically in 2020 and 2021 while Harry, Dugger, and Taylor all served the role in college. 2. I think they dropped the ball there, he said. Olszewski played collegiately at Bemidji State, a Division II school in Minnesota. Olszewski's father, Eric, played minor league baseball as a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves organization. Even though the Patriots can easily keep Olszewski by placing one of the three restricted free agency tenders on him, such a move is not guaranteed to happen given a) the cost associated with it and b) Olszewskis comparative one-dimensionality. From his position in the third-base coachs box, Bellew waited for word from the trainer, who either on her own volition or at Olszewskis behest, decided to clear him. The scramble for rookie free agents is underway. He was a starting cornerback and return specialist but switched to receiver with the Patriots. Together, they trained 81 times through the end of June. What is his experience? It hangs in front of a 139-year-old watering hole, the Gordon Street Tavern. The Nittany Lions star has the capacity to dominate for the black and gold, just as his dad did. With a caption of "*punches clock*," Julian Edelman shared some pictures on Instagram. 9. He would play in eight games for the Patriots, returning 20 punts (with a nine-yard return average) while catching two passes for 34 yards.
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