Tag: Gunner Olszewski

Report: Giants re-signing Gunner Olszewski to one-year deal

The New York Giants have agreed to terms with wide receiver and return-man Gunner Olszewski on a one-year deal.

The 2024 NFL season begins in just two days, and today marked the beginning of the two-day period where teams and unrestricted free agents can begin to discuss contracts and enter into negotiations.

The New York Giants have made minimal moves as of this writing, but have reportedly agreed to terms with wide receiver and return specialist, Gunner Olszewski.

After spending time in New England and Pittsburgh, Olszewski joined the Giants in 2023 after the season started. While not used as a receiver, Olszewski stepped in as a punt returner. In 10 games, he recorded 273 return yards on 23 attempts, one return for a touchdown, and seven fair catches.

The Giants’ woes on special teams were evident in the first game against the Dallas Cowboys last season. Adjustments were made by Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, including bringing in Olszewski as a return man.

The benefit of keeping Olszewski around, aside from his consistent play on special teams, is that he can also serve as a receiver. He wasn’t called on for that last season, but he is an option should the need arise going forward.

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Giants vs. Eagles: 6 keys to victory in Week 18

The Giants host the Eagles in the final week of the 2023 regular season, and the Giants must do six things to end the season with a victory.

It’s the final week of the 2023 NFL regular season. For many teams, including the New York Giants, it’s the end of the road and a chance to find areas of opportunity to focus on during the offseason.

But there’s still one more game to play; one more time to show up. For some, it might be their last time in blue.

Even though the Giants’ season ends against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, they get to end the year at home and they have an opportunity to ruin the Eagles’ chances to win the division.

Ending the season on a high note would be nice after the roller coaster ride that was this season. To get that win, there are six things the Giants must do on Sunday.

Giants’ Gunner Olszewski named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

New York Giants return man Gunner Olszewski has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 17.

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

With just over 3:00 remaining in the game and the Giants trailing 26-19, Olszewski fielded an Ethan Evans punt and returned it 94 yards for the score. It was the longest punt return of the entire NFL season and the longest since December 12, 2021 (Jakeem Grant).

The return also etched Olszewski’s name in the Giants’ history books as it was the longest punt return for the team in 95 years and the second-longest of all-time (Al Youngblood, 95 yards in 1928).

Olszewski’s punt return for a touchdown was the Giants’ first since December 6, 2015 (Dwayne Harris).

“We got some good blocks on their gunners and then Gunner got into that mix, did a great job of really securing the football. Two hands on it, spun out of it and kind of reset where he was going, and we had a whole wall in front of him, but it starts with blocking the gunners and the ball security because he got into that mix and spun out and had a good finish,” head coach Brian Daboll said earlier this week.

The long return glossed over what was a less-than-stellar game for Olszewski. He had previously allowed a punt to sail over his head and fielded another just shy of the goal line.

Olszewski finished the game with four punt returns for 108 yards and the one touchdowns.

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Giants report card: How we graded Big Blue in Week 17 loss

The New York Giants fell to the Los Angeles Rams, 26-25, in Week 17 and the Giants Wire team grades reflect that performance.

The New York Giants were defeated once again, this time on New Year’s Eve by the Los Angeles Rams, 26-25.

The Giants nearly pulled off the upset but fell short twice — once on a late two-point conversion attempt and another time on a potential game-winning field goal. The Giants now fall to 5-11 and third in the NFC East.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what we saw during the game and how we graded the Giants in this loss.

Giants can’t overcome self-inflicted wounds, fall to Rams, 26-25

The New York Giants couldn’t get out of their own way in Week 17, handing the Los Angeles Rams a 26-25 victory.

The New York Giants (5-10) played host to the Los Angeles Rams (8-7) at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a clash between two of the NFC’s most storied franchises.

The Rams entered the game winners of five of their last six while the Giants came in losers of their last two games.

The Giants were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16 while the Rams came in as the NFC’s sixth seed.

No one knew what to expect but what they got was one of the most entertaining football games of the year — even if it was rather ugly and ended poorly for the Giants.

Giants’ Gunner Olszewski returns punt 94 yards for spectacular touchdown

Gunner Olszewski set a Giants team record with a 94-yard punt return for a TD

The Los Angeles Rams had Gunner Olszewski in their grasp … and then he was gone for a 94-yard punt return.

The play brought Big Blue within 26-25. On the PAT, the Rams were offsides. That caused Brian Daboll to audible and go for a two-point conversion.

Saquon Barkley was wide open but Tyrod Taylor missed him and the Giants still trailed 26-25.

Studs and duds from Giants’ Week 16 loss vs. Eagles

Here’s a look at the studs and duds (and studly duds) from a 33-25 loss for the New York Giants against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.

The New York Giants had their Christmas celebration spoiled by the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday afternoon.

The Eagles, with an assist from NFL officials, walked away with a much-needed 33-25 victory, holding the Giants at bay as time expired.

With the loss, the Giants fall to 5-10 on the season and are officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Here is a look at some of the studs and duds (and studly duds) from the Week 16 defeat.

Giants end primetime curse, stun Packers, 24-22, to keep playoff hopes alive

The New York Giants ended their primetime curse and stayed alive in the NFC Playoff hunt with a 24-22 upset of the Packers on Monday night.

The New York Giants hosted the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium in a Week 14 matchup between two of the NFC’s hottest teams.

The Giants sported their ‘classic’ uniforms from their 1980s heyday under Bill Parcells and local hero Tommy DeVito started once again at quarterback.

Here’s how things turned out…

Giants’ Joe Schoen explains why he cut Jamison Crowder

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen explains why he cut return specialist Jamison Crowder prior to the season: “That’s on me.”

The New York Giants are underperforming in all passes of the game this season. Their offense is last in scoring and yards and their defense is ranked 28th overall.

Their special teams, a unit the Giants have prided themselves in the past few seasons, has also had its challenges. They are averaging just 6.5 yards per punt return (30th) and the reason is fairly clear – they have failed to find a reliable returner.

“That’s on me,” general manager Joe Schoen told reporters on Monday.

“To be honest with you, that’s another — we tried to address the punt returner. We knew it was an issue. In the draft, some of the guys we liked went probably higher than where we deemed you would take a guy.”

The Giants ended up settling on rookie running back Eric Gray, a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma who averaged just 4.0 yards per return on 28 attempts and had serious ball security issues to boot.

Gray was injured in Week 8 and has been out with an ankle injury ever since. He returned in Week 12 but the Giants have moved on, adding free agent Gunner Olszewski, who has stabilized to the role, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt.

Schoen spoke about Gray and his background, which led to the Giants believing he could handle the responsibility of returning punts over several veterans, including Jameson Crowder, who the Giants cut.

“Eric had done it at Tennessee, and he had done it at Oklahoma and the coaches were comfortable, we were comfortable going into the regular season based off what we were seeing,” Schoen explained.

“I know Crowder is having success in Washington, you bring him up — we kept seven receivers; we couldn’t keep eight. Do the math, who do you move on from, from the group if you kept Crowder? So, there was some moving parts in there and that’s me being candid with you and that’s on me, the returner. I’m glad we got (wide receiver) Gunner (Olszewski) here, though. He’s done a really good job for us.”

Schoen didn’t quite close the door on Gray. The Giants still need him for depth in the backfield and could still try him as a returner in the future.

“Eric’s got a bright future and we probably put him in a spot that wasn’t most comfortable for him either, but he went out there, didn’t flinch an eye, didn’t bat an eye, and did what he could, but again that’s on me, early on. We couldn’t do everything overnight and as much as we wanted to and that was a position we continued to look for and Pittsburgh let Gunner go and we were able to get him,” Schoen said.

Meanwhile, out in Washington, Crowder is seventh in the league with 207 yards on punt returns.

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Giants report card: How we graded Big Blue in Week 11 win

The New York Giants defeated the Washington Commanders, 31-19, in Week 11 and the Giants Wire team grades reflect that performance.

The New York Giants defeated the Washington Commanders, 31-19, in Week 11.

This victory for New York completes the season sweep on Washington while also making it the seventh win in the last 10 matchups. The Giants looked like a completely different team on Sunday firing on all sides of the ball and finishing with their first two-score win of the season.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what we saw during the game and how we graded the Giants in this win.