Gunner Olszewski Bio
Kaleb Gunner Olszewski, known professionally as Gunner Olszewski, is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the New York Giants of the National Football League. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, he has built his reputation on special teams, where his speed and field vision have produced some of the most electric returns in recent league seasons. Olszewski first rose to national attention as a punt returner with the New England Patriots before continuing his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants.
Undrafted out of a Division II college program, Olszewski has outperformed expectations at every professional stop. His journey from small-school cornerback to first-team All-Pro returner is one of the more unusual paths in modern NFL history.
Early Life and Background
Olszewski was born on November 26, 1996, in Alvin, Texas, to Eric and Collette Olszewski. He grew up in the same southeast Texas community where he would later become a celebrated high school athlete, and he has two brothers, one older and one younger. The family environment in Alvin helped shape his early competitive drive across multiple sports.
He attended Alvin High School, where he starred in both football and baseball. On the gridiron, he set school records for tackles and interceptions, foreshadowing the defensive instincts that would later define his college career. His high school experience gave him a strong foundation in tackling, coverage, and ball-hawking skills that scouts rarely associate with future offensive players.
Despite his decorated high school resume, Olszewski did not attract offers from major college football programs. He ultimately chose to continue his career at Bemidji State University, a Division II program in northern Minnesota, where he would reinvent himself as a cornerback and return specialist.
Path to Professional Football
At Bemidji State, Olszewski joined the Beavers as a cornerback and immediately contributed on special teams. As a freshman in 2015, he was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Newcomer of the Year, an early sign that his small-school production would translate into conference-wide recognition. He also handled punt return duties and served as the team’s holder on field goals and extra points, broadening his special teams value.
Over four seasons with the Beavers, Olszewski developed into one of the top defensive backs in the NSIC. As a senior in 2018, he was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned First-team Division II All-American honors. His senior campaign confirmed what his freshman year had hinted at: he was too talented to remain at the Division II level for long, even if the NFL initially appeared unlikely.
When the 2019 NFL draft concluded without a team selecting him, Olszewski pursued rookie minicamp invitations. The Minnesota Vikings worked him out as a cornerback, while the New England Patriots tried him at wide receiver. The Patriots ultimately offered him an undrafted free agent contract, beginning his professional journey as an offensive player and returner.
Gunner Olszewski Career
Early Career (2019)
Olszewski signed with the New England Patriots on May 23, 2019, after the team created a roster opening following the retirement of offensive lineman Jared Veldheer. The three-year deal included a modest $2,500 signing bonus, underscoring his underdog status entering the league. He survived final roster cuts in dramatic fashion when the Patriots traded cornerback Keion Crossen less than an hour before the deadline, keeping Olszewski on the 53-man roster.
He made his NFL debut in the Patriots’ Week 1 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, returning two punts for 35 yards. By Week 6, he had recorded his first career receptions, and he flashed enough promise to remain in the team’s plans despite a midseason injured reserve stint for ankle and hamstring injuries.
New England Patriots Breakthrough (2019-2021)
Olszewski’s defining Patriots moment came in 2020, his first full season as a primary returner. After opening the year on injured reserve with a foot injury, he returned in October and quickly became a dangerous weapon on special teams. In Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals, he fielded a punt 82 yards for an apparent touchdown before a penalty nullified the score, and he posted a 58-yard return instead.
A week later against the Los Angeles Chargers, Olszewski exploded with three punt returns totaling 145 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown, his first career score. He added his first receiving touchdown later in the same game on a 38-yard pass from Jarrett Stidham, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He finished 2020 with a league-leading 346 punt return yards and a 17.3-yard average that set a Patriots franchise record, the second-highest mark since the AFL-NFL merger. In January 2021, he became the first Patriots punt returner ever named first-team AP All-Pro.
Injuries limited his 2021 production, but through nine games he still ranked second in the league in punt return yards. His work as a receiver remained secondary to his return duties, yet his role on special teams anchored his roster spot.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2022-2023)
On March 21, 2022, Olszewski signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, joining a team that prided itself on special teams play. He primarily served on those units while seeing limited opportunities at receiver, finishing the 2022 season with five catches for 53 yards. His veteran experience helped stabilize a Steelers return game that valued field position.
His 2023 season with Pittsburgh was brief. In Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, he recorded his only catch before fumbling the ball away, a turnover that helped shift the game. He was released on October 21, 2023, ending his Steelers tenure after less than two full seasons.
New York Giants Era (2023-Present)
The New York Giants signed Olszewski to their practice squad on October 23, 2023, and promoted him to the active roster five days later. He wasted little time delivering a signature play, returning a punt 94 yards for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17. The return initially appeared to set a new Giants club record, though later research confirmed Al Bloodgood’s 1928 mark of 95 yards still stood.
He re-signed with the Giants on March 11, 2024, but a preseason groin injury forced him onto injured reserve before Week 1. On July 29, 2025, Olszewski re-signed again with New York, determined to reclaim his return role. During the 2025 season, he caught a 24-yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers, his first receiving score since 2020, and later threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jameis Winston on a trick play against the Detroit Lions. He finished a Week 18 game against the Dallas Cowboys with eight catches for 102 yards, nearly half of his career receiving yardage entering the contest.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his All-Pro selection in 2020 and his 2025 trick-play touchdown pass, Olszewski has authored several unforgettable returns. His 94-yard punt score against the Rams, his 70-yard touchdown against the Chargers, and his emergency stint as a holder following a Graham Gano injury all illustrate the breadth of his special teams impact. Each moment reflects the resourcefulness that has defined his career since his undrafted signing in 2019.
Gunner Olszewski Career Wins
Olszewski’s professional win totals reflect a return specialist whose impact is measured as much in field position and explosive plays as in victories. His career NFL totals include 25 receptions for 325 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns, complemented by 2,976 return yards and 2 return touchdowns across his Patriots, Steelers, and Giants stints. While he has not collected Super Bowl rings as a central contributor, his All-Pro honors and league-leading return average stand as the clearest measures of on-field success.
Other Wins and Performances
Before the NFL, Olszewski captured NSIC Newcomer of the Year in 2015 and NSIC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, along with First-team Division II All-American recognition that same season. Those conference and national awards at Bemidji State laid the groundwork for his professional opportunity, even as an undrafted free agent.
Gunner Olszewski Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Olszewski grew up in a close-knit household in Alvin, Texas, raised by his father, Eric Olszewski, and his mother, Collette Olszewski. He has two brothers, one older and one younger, and the family supported his multi-sport development throughout his childhood. His Texas roots and family support helped drive his journey from small-town high school star to NFL professional.
Personal Life
Olszewski keeps his personal life largely private, and details about a spouse or children have not been publicly confirmed. His professional journey from Alvin to Bemidji and then to multiple NFL cities reflects a career shaped by adaptability and family encouragement.
2025 Season Performance
Olszewski’s 2025 campaign with the New York Giants has highlighted his continued value as a versatile special teams contributor. After re-signing in July, he served as the team’s primary returner while also rotating into the receiver rotation. His receiving usage grew late in the year, culminating in an eight-catch, 102-yard performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18 that nearly matched his career receiving yardage entering the game.
Beyond his offensive contributions, Olszewski remained central to the Giants’ special teams plans, including an emergency stint as the team’s holder following a Graham Gano injury during a Week 3 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. His willingness to handle multiple roles reinforced his reputation as a selfless veteran presence in the locker room.
Looking ahead, Olszewski is expected to remain a key figure in the Giants’ return game and a trusted backup option on offense. His proven durability, big-play ability, and positional flexibility give New York a reliable special teams anchor heading into the next league year.
