(Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Steelers are brining in former Patriots All-Pro kick returner Gunner Olszewski on a two-year, $4.2 million deal. Olzewski will replace Ray-Ray McCloud as the return man on kickoffs and punt returns, as McCloud signed a two-year, $10.4 million deal with the 49ers on Thursday night.
Olszewski, 25, joined the Patriots in 2019 out of NCAA Division II Bemidji State as a undrafted free agent. He was a restricted free agency but the Patriots declined to tender him.
Olszewski was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020 when he led the NFL with 346 punt return yards and a 17.3 average per return. He also returned one punt for a touchdown. In his three seasons with the Patriots, Olzewski had just nine receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown. Olzewski has a career average of 12.6 yards on punt returns and 23.2 yards on kick returns.
Last year against the Chargers, Olszewski had four returns for 80 yards, with three returns of 20-plus yards, a feat last accomplished by a Patriot in 2000 when Troy Brown did it