by Bo Marchionte
Pittsburgh – If you combined Matthew McConaughey and Julian Edelman together, you might end up with Gunner Olszewski.
Both Texas natives, Olszewski has a slight resemblance to McConaughey along with a robust personality. He is verbally witty and very engaging in a fun manner not often associated with the normal locker room banter between reporter and player.
“I’m a little looser than most for sure,” said Olszewski.
His fun spirited attitude should not be mistaken for his lack of determination. His perseverance is one of his best traits. A stone-cold demeanor to dominate resonates beneath the McConaughey-ish smile.
“Right now, I got my head down and working,” said Olszewski a former 2020 first-team All-Pro return man from the New England Patriots. “Trying to learn the playbook. I’m a new guy. I know I’ve been in the league for three years now, but I’m the new guy. I just need to put my head down and work.”
No Division II athlete makes it in the NFL, if you’re not keeping your head down and working. Also, helps that he is gifted with some freakish athleticism.
That leads us to the Edelman comparison.
Edelman was an undersized highlight reel playing quarterback at Kent State, prior to being selected in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, by the Patriots. It wasn’t until Edelman’s fifth year in the league he became a real factor in the Patriots offense.
Sitting with Edelman and former NFL quarterback Charlie Frye, after Edelman performed at Akron’s Pro Day. Frye was bullish on this ex-quarterback making an impact at the receiver position given the opportunity in the National Football League.
Getting back to Olszewski.
He changed positions leaving college to make it in professional football. He was a star defensive back and baseball player at Bemidji State. He won Defensive Player of the Year in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference as a senior at in 2018.
Olszewski is the guy you want on your pickup basketball game.
Scrappy and athletic he’ll be on the winning end. It’s what he does, when obstacles are placed in his way, he conquers them with great success and a smirk – to indicate he whipped your ass.
In my humble opinion he was the stand-alone star of the Steelers minicamp, catching one pass after the next.
Time and time again.
Taking notes on who threw it to who and who caught it. It always seemed to be No. 89 hauling in a pass from the group of Pittsburgh quarterbacks finding this quick twitch slot receiver in the making.
“Opportunity, the guy put it in a great spot, and I went and grabbed it,” said Olszewski. “It’s my job. Get open. Catch the ball.”
Getting open and catching the ball seemed to be the norm after a while. It became a bit routine to see No. 89 hauling another catch.
Summer awaits and pads need to be put on and the real game begins, but it would be shocking to me if Olszewski doesn’t show up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania for training camp poised to be a fan favorite this summer.
“Make big plays,” said Olszewski on what can help separate him from the pack and gain more reps. “Make those explosive plays that everybody wants. You look at the league.
“Everybody is looking for them. A guy who can get those 20-plus yard plays. Give a little spark to the offense. So, I like to think I can do that.”
Olszewski has shown the potential to carve out a real niche in the Steelers offense. Pittsburgh has plenty of new faces amongst the receiver unit which leaves the field wide open on who can develop chemistry and distinguish themselves from one another in training camp.
With just nine NFL catches, this piece isn’t being written to enshrine Olszewski into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but a strong indicator that he’s making some headway towards a promising 2022 season. Olszewski is learning the nuances of the position and like Edelman it took some time to synchronize the game of football to his skill set.
Besides his dual-sport athleticism, Olszewski feels the new surroundings are suiting him quit well.
‘This place felt like home the minute I stepped in here,” said Olszewski. “Something about it. It’s been cool. Seeing how the Pittsburgh Steelers operate.
“I’ve never been part of it obviously but coming in I had my speculations on how it really is going to be, and I cannot say enough good things about the program Mike Tomlin has built here. It sure is fun to be a part of.”
That fun coincides with his teammates at receiver.
“We have been out to eat multiple times this year,” said Olszewski. “It’s been great. We’ve been to some baseball games. We’ve been to some hockey games and all that. So, all the guys in the receiver room I’m real tight with.”
We won’t see Olszewski until July 27th when training camp opens, enough time for readers to get acclimated to this former DII defensive back turned All-Pro returner. He should develop into a key contributor to winning football games this season for the Steelers, via the passing game and special teams.
With a name like Gunner, I had to ask him.
Do you have a nickname?
“My name is cool enough already,” joked Olszewski. “Shooter. Gun show. A couple good ones. I ain’t got a nickname here yet.”
If he continues to – Get open. Catch the ball.
His name Gunner should suffice in being very popular in Pittsburgh this fall. The charismatic All-Pro should provide plenty of laughter and highlights to enjoy as he builds his game in the Steel City.
That will all come to fruition for Olszewski.
If he – Gets open. Catches the ball.
It’s his job.