PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Fans probably can remember the time Bill Belichick made a lacrosse player a receiver and he caught nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers in a playoff game. Now the Steelers signed a player Belichick turned from a defensive back into a receiver/returner and gave him a two-year contract.
After a year to settle in as a rookie, Gunner Olszewski was First-Team All-Pro with the Patriots in the 2020 season averaging 17.3 yards per punt return and 23.2 per kickoff return. Losing Ray-Ray McCloud in free agency, Steelers had a need and brought him from the Patriots for two years, $4.2 million late last week.
Olszewski played only defensive back his whole football career in high school and college saying he just loved to tackle people. It included four seasons of all-conference play at Division II Bemidji State. His senior season as the conference player of the year. Then Belichick decided the 6', 190-pounder could not only return kicks, which he did in college, but play receiver.
"It's a huge adjustment," Olszewski said. "I figured it might be easy because obviously playing defensive back is the hardest position on the field because you are moving backwards and people are running full speed at you. I learned real quick that receiver ain't no walk in the park."
"There's a lot to learn. It's a hard position to play and it was tough switching positions. I had played defense my whole life and now playing offense. At the end of the day it's just football and you got to be able to do all of the things it takes to be good at football."
The 25-year-old was only targeted a dozen times in his three seasons in New England, catching nine of them for 127 yards and a touchdown. He said he hasn't talked to the Steelers about playing receiver, saying he will see what happens. He will go wherever he can help. He just likes to play football.
A Texas native, Olszewski said it was an easy decision to come to Pittsburgh because of the offer of a two-year contract. He said he came sight unseen, having not talked to anyone and told his agent 'let's go'.
"It was great," Olszewski said of playing for the Patriots. "I appreciate the opportunity I was given out of college. I think I took the opportunity and ran with it playing the last three years there."
"I'm a Pittsburgh Steeler now, I'm really looking forward to this next chapter."
