It's about time that the Pittsburgh Steelers cut ties with wide receiver and return man Gunner Olszewski. The team signed the former New England Patriots All-Pro returner to a two-year, $4.2 million contract just ahead of the 2022 season. Unfortunately, the Steelers never got the 2020 All-Pro version of him. He had quite a long leash too, as many wondered why the team didn't cut ties with him sooner.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers wide receiver Gunner Olszewski made multiple huge mistakes in 2023, including in the team's Week 2 victory over the Browns.
In fact, it was a bit of a mild surprise that he made the 53-man roster in 2023. He was consistently solid throughout the summer, which earned rave reviews from his fellow teammates. With the team's lack of back end depth at wide receiver, the coaching staff opted to give him another chance. Well, it didn't exactly work out. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero was the first one to report the news that Pittsburgh has moved on from Olszewski.
The #Steelers are releasing WR Gunner Olszewski, per source. A productive veteran special teamer and receiver available.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 20, 2023
Somehow, Olszewski's mistakes became even more plentiful in 2023. Everyone remembers him toe tapping a kick return in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns. That wasn't it, as he had a few costly fumbles, including in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens. Thankfully, rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. saved Olszewski with an interception a few plays later. Later, Olszewski admitted that he "owed" the rookie a huge gift.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers returner and wide receiver Gunner Olszewski stands on the field at Acrisure Stadium as the team warms up prior to a 2022 preseason game in Pittsburgh, PA.
Across two seasons with the team, Olszewski saw a total of just 14 kick and punt returns. That's despite the fact that the return game is supposed to be his specialty. Despite appearing in 221 offensive snaps in Pittsburgh, he registered just six total catches for 53 yards. Most importantly, he had four fumbles in limited opportunities. In seemingly every chance he got with the Steelers, he coughed it up.
Why Did Steelers Wait So Long To Cut Olszewski?
It should be noted that the team met with Keke Coutee on Thursday. We speculated that this could signal the end of Olszewski's tenure in Pittsburgh, and that held true. Now, we wait to see if the team picks up Coutee. He has some experience in the return game in his career with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts, while also bringing more of a possible impact on offense.
The Texans selected Coutee in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he was a valuable member for the first three seasons. In that span, he racked up 83 catches for 941 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He became a depth piece in Houston, which included his best season in 2020. In eight games (four starts) that season, he had career highs in receiving yards (400), touchdowns (3), receptions (33), as well as catch rate (82.5%).
Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle
The Steelers met with former Texans wideout Keke Coutee ahead of Week 7, and with Gunner Olszewski gone, the team may now sign him.
Despite those career best numbers, he was released just ahead of the 2021 season. To put it simply, he wasn't able to stay healthy, as he appeared in just 23 games across three seasons with the team. Since then, he's spent limited time with the Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins. Coutee has been unable to stick anywhere, but Pittsburgh could be a spot where he could somewhat revitalize his career.
With Olszewski as well as Desmond King gone, the Steelers could use Coutee for additional help in the return game as well. He has averaged 8.3 yards per punt return across 24 career chances, and he does have another five kick returns on his resume. Steeler Nation can now rejoice, as Olszewski is finally out of Pittsburgh.
What are your thoughts on the team finally moving on from Olszewski? Where does he rank amongst the worst Steelers players of all-time? Is this a sign that the team will add Coutee in the following days? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
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