Gunner Olszewski Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

New York Giants punt returner Gunner Olszewski has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his Week 17 performance against the Los Angeles Rams.

Olszewski's big day included a 94-yard punt return, in which he broke attempted tackles by Jason Taylor II and Christian Rozeboom before turning up the Jets along the right sideline with 3:27 remaining in the game. The touchdown made the score 26-25 in favor of the Rams, the Giants failing to convert on the ensuing 2-point try. 

Olszewski's punt return, the second in his career, was the longest in the NFL this season and the longest since December 12, 2021, when Jakeem Grant, then with the Bears, scored on a 97-yarder against the Packers. 

It was the second-longest punt return in Giants history and the longest in 95 years, falling just shy of Al Youngblood's 95-yard return in the Giants' season-opener against the Pottsville Maroons on September 30, 1928.

It was also the first Giants punt return for a touchdown since Dwayne Harris scored on an 80-yard return vs. the Jets on December 6, 2015.

Olszewski was signed to the Giants' practice squad on October 23, two days after the Steelers released him, and then was elevated to the 53-man roster on November 3. He's returned 20 punts for a 12.2-yard average. Including one return with Pittsburgh early in the season, and ranks fifth in the NFL with a 12.0-yard average.