Gunner Olszewski’s muffed punt vs. former team proves crucial in Steelers’ loss

Gunner Olszewski, like any player in such a situation, wanted to make an impact during Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers home opener.

Olszewski did, and not in the way he wanted to.

Olszewski’s third-quarter muffed punt set up the Patriots at the PSteelers’ 10-yard line and led to the touchdown that effectively was the difference in a 17-14 Patriots victory Sunday.

A return specialist, Olszewski was playing his second regular-season game for the Steelers and first against his former team. New England elected not to tender Olszewski a contract as a restricted free agent this spring.

“I dropped it,” Olszewski kept repeating when asked about the muff, which came during what at the time was a 10-6 game with 3 minutes, 58 seconds left in the third quarter. “I dropped it.”

Current #Steelers, former #Patriots Returner, Gunner Olszewski just gave his former team a gift by muffing the punt.pic.twitter.com/SpohCic8UV

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 18, 2022

Olszewski, the AP’s All-Pro punt returner in 2020, said sun on what was a clear afternoon was not a factor.

“Just didn’t get under it in time, and that’s on me,” Olszewski said.

“A game like that, you can’t make mistakes like that, especially in your own red zone. The game came down to it. I know that. I own that. Can’t happen.”

Olszewski spent his first three NFL seasons with the Patriots, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Three of Olszewski’s five career fumbles with the Patriots came last season.

“Obviously, when we didn’t handle the punt, that was a significant play,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

Olszewski, who signed a two-year, $4.2 million contract in March, had a 10-yard punt return in the season opener Sept. 11 at Cincinnati. Other than the muff, he did not have a kickoff or punt return Sunday against the Patriots. He has played sparingly on offense.

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