Gunner Olszewski Bio
Kaleb Gunner Olszewski is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the New York Giants of the National Football League. Born on November 26, 1996, in Alvin, Texas, he first gained attention as an undrafted cornerback out of Bemidji State University before converting to receiver and becoming one of the league’s most dynamic punt returners.
Olszewski began his NFL career in 2019 with the New England Patriots after signing as an undrafted free agent. He went on to spend time with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the New York Giants, where he has continued to contribute on special teams and in the receiving game.
Early Life and Background
Kaleb Gunner Olszewski was born on November 26, 1996, in Alvin, Texas, to Eric and Collette Olszewski. He grew up alongside two brothers, one older and one younger, in a supportive household that encouraged athletics from a young age.
He attended Alvin High School, where he lettered in both football and baseball. On the gridiron, Olszewski set school records for tackles and interceptions, establishing himself as a ball-hawking defender in the secondary. His dual-sport background helped him develop the speed and hand-eye coordination that would later translate to the professional level.
Path to Professional Football
After high school, Olszewski took his talents north to Bemidji State University in Minnesota, a Division II program. Although he was originally recruited as a defensive back, he also contributed on special teams, returning punts and serving as the holder for field goals and extra points. As a freshman in 2015, he was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Newcomer of the Year, signaling his arrival as a Division II standout.
By his senior season in 2018, Olszewski had developed into one of the top defensive players in the conference, earning NSIC Defensive Player of the Year honors and First-team Division II All-American recognition. Despite his production at the Division II level, Olszewski went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft, but his versatility as a returner and defensive back attracted interest from multiple NFL teams, setting the stage for his professional breakthrough.
Gunner Olszewski Career
Early Career (2019)
Following the 2019 NFL Draft, Olszewski received rookie minicamp invitations from both the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots. The Vikings used him at cornerback, while the Patriots tried him at wide receiver. On May 23, 2019, after veteran tackle Jared Veldheer announced his retirement, the Patriots signed Olszewski to an undrafted free agent contract with a $2,500 signing bonus.
He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, returning two punts for 35 yards in a 33–3 Patriots win. He recorded his first receptions in Week 6 against the New York Giants, but his rookie season was cut short in November when he was placed on injured reserve with ankle and hamstring injuries.
New England Patriots Breakthrough (2020–2021)
In 2020, Olszewski emerged as one of the most dangerous punt returners in the NFL. After opening the year on injured reserve with a foot injury, he returned to action in Week 4 and quickly made an impact. In Week 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers, he logged three punt returns totaling 145 yards, including a 70-yard score that marked the first touchdown of his career, and added his first receiving touchdown on a 38-yard pass from Jarrett Stidham in a 45–0 shutout. His performance earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Olszewski finished the 2020 season leading the league with 346 punt return yards on 20 returns, averaging a franchise-record 17.3 yards per return, the second-highest mark since the AFL-NFL merger. In January 2021, he was named to the 2020 AP All-Pro First Team as a punt returner, becoming the first Patriots player at the position to receive that distinction. Through nine games of the 2021 season, he continued to rank among the league’s top punt returners before eventually moving on from New England.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2022–2023)
On March 21, 2022, Olszewski signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He primarily contributed on special teams while seeing limited action as a receiver, finishing the 2022 season with five receptions on seven targets for 53 yards. His lone catch of the 2023 season came in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, though he lost a fumble on the play. He was released by the Steelers on October 21, 2023.
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. In Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams, he returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown, initially reported as a club record before research confirmed the franchise mark of 95 yards set in 1928 still stood. He re-signed with the Giants on March 11, 2024, but a groin injury landed him on injured reserve before Week 1.
Olszewski re-signed with the Giants again on July 29, 2025. During a Week 3 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, he stepped in as the team’s holder after kicker Graham Gano went down with an injury. Later in the season, he caught a 24-yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers, his first receiving score since 2020, and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jameis Winston on a trick play against the Detroit Lions.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Olszewski’s career came in 2020, when he set a franchise record with a 17.3-yard punt return average and became the first New England Patriots punt returner ever named to the AP All-Pro First Team. His 94-yard punt return touchdown in 2023 also placed him among the Giants’ most explosive special teams plays in recent memory.
Gunner Olszewski Career Wins
While Olszewski’s career has been built more on special teams impact than traditional win totals, his on-field success is reflected in accolades rather than counting stats.
All-Pro and Conference Honors
Olszewski’s crowning individual achievement came in January 2021, when he was named to the 2020 AP All-Pro First Team as a punt returner, a first for any Patriots player at that position. He also earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in 2020, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s premier return specialists.
Gunner Olszewski Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Olszewski was raised in Alvin, Texas, by his parents, Eric and Collette Olszewski. He has two brothers, and his upbringing in a sports-friendly household helped shape his path into football. Beyond his family ties, Olszewski has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has showcased Olszewski’s continued value as a versatile special teams contributor for the New York Giants. After re-signing with the team in July, he has been called upon in multiple roles, including an emergency stint as the team’s holder following an injury to kicker Graham Gano during a Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Midway through the season, Olszewski registered his first receiving touchdown since 2020, a 24-yard catch against the San Francisco 49ers. He later added a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jameis Winston on a trick play against the Detroit Lions, demonstrating his continued offensive involvement and creative usage by the coaching staff. A concussion suffered during a kickoff return against the New England Patriots briefly sidelined him, but his ability to contribute in multiple phases of the game has kept him firmly in the Giants’ plans for the remainder of the year.