Gunner Olszewski

Olszewski, 22, was a four-year player for Bemidji State as a defensive back and a returner. The 6-foot, 170-pounder registered 310 total tackles and 13 interceptions and returned 69 punts for 923 yards with one touchdown. Last season as a senior, Olszewski was named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with 63 tackles, three interceptions and four passes defensed.

PRONOUNCED o-sheh-ski

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Gunner Olszewski was signed by the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent on May 23, 2019.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2020 (13/2)

• Placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the regular season.
• Was activated off IR prior to Week 4 at Kansas City (10/5), caught one pass after it caromed off Julian Edelman's hands and into his arms, picked up 11 yards and a first down on the play. Handled punt return duties, returning one for 12 yards and fair caught another.
• Played as a return man on both kickoffs and punts s. Denver (10/18). Returned three kickoffs for 77 yards including one 33 yarder in the first quarter. fair caught one punt.
• Appeared as a reserve wide receiver in a Week 7 loss vs. San Francisco (10/25). Handled kickoff return duty, compiling 155 yards on six returns and fumbled once but recovered. Also fair caught one punt in the fourth quarter.
• Made his first NFL Start at wide receiver in a Week 8 loss at Buffalo (11/1). Had his first NFL rushing attempt in the second quarter for a 6 yard gain on a jets sweep. Returned a punt 15 yards to the Buffalo 37 yard line in the third quarter that helped set up a Damien Harris touchdown that tied the game at 14-14 after a successful 2-pt conversion. Also handled kickoff returns, racking up 53 yards on three returns.
• Started at wide receiver and made one catch for one yard in a Week 9 win at the Jets (11/9). Carried the ball three times for 16 yards, including a 12 yard run that picked up a first down. Also handled kick off return duties, racking up 100 yards on four returns.
• Handled kick return duties in a Week 10 win vs. Baltimore (11/15). Fair caught two punts and drew a 15 yard personal foul call after he was run into on a fair catch in the first quarter. Was the kickoff return man, but all kickoffs were touchbacks. Was praised by Bill Belichick for good ball security on punts due to the wind and rain.
• Returned two punts for three total yards and fair caught two others in a Week 11 loss at Houston (11/22). Returned one kickoff for 12-yards.
• Had a career long 58 yard punt return in the third quarter and he returned a punt for an 82 yard touchdown return but it was reduced to a 58 yard return due to a penalty against the Patriots as part of a Week 12 win over Arizona. Also had one carry one yard.
• Scored his first NFL touchdown on a 70 yard punt return in the second quarter of a Week 13 win at the Chargers (12/6). It is the first punt return for a touchdown for New England since WR Julian Edelman returned a punt 84 yards vs. Denver on Nov. 2, 2014. Olszewski's return comes on the heels of an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown that was reduced after a penalty to a 58 yard punt return in the win over Arizona on Nov. 29. Added a 61 yard punt return in the fourth quarter, in addition to his 70 yard touchdown return in the second quarter. He is the first player in Patriots history with two punt returns of at least 60 yards in a single game and the first NFL player to do so since RB Nyheim Hines had an 84 and 71 yard punt returns for a touchdown vs. Carolina on Dec. 22, 2019. He finished with 145 punt return yards, the second most ever by a Patriots player in a single game, trialing only Mike Hayne's 156 yard effort on Nov, 1976. He also hauled his first touchdown reception on a career long 38 yard pass from QB Jarrett Stidham in the fourth quarter. His previous best was a 29 yard reception vs. the NY Giants on Oct 10, 2019. Also added special teams tackles. Named AFC Special Teams Player Of The Week.
• Returned five punts for 47 yards and one fair catch in a Week 14 loss at the Rams (12/10).
• Returned one punt for five yards in a Week 16 loss vs. Buffalo (12/28).
• Returned three punts for 36 yards in a Week 17 win vs. the Jets (1/3). In doing so, finished first in NFL with a 17.3 yard punt return average (20 returns for 346 yards). It is also the highest return average in Patriots history. Julian Edelman had the highest average in a season at 15.5 in 2012. Olszewski is the third Patriots player to lead the league in punt return average. Troy Brown led the NFL in 2001 with a 14.2 yard average and Irving Fryar tied for the NFL lead with a 14.1 yard average in 1985. He also returned a kickoff that was purposely short and kicked from the midfield follow a patriots personal foul call in the jets touchdown. He picked up 21 yards on the return. In addition saw time at receiver and caught two third quarter passes after Damiere Byrd left the game early due to injury.

2019 (8/0, 0/0)

• Made the 53-man roster as a rookie free agent, appearing in eight games as a reserve, before being placed on injured reserve on Nov. 19. Used primarily as a punt returner, caught two passes for 34 yards, returned 20 punts for 179 yards and made one special teams tackle.
• Was inactive due to injury at Baltimore (11/3) and at Philadelphia (11/17) before being placed on injured reserve.
• Made his NFL debut in a reserve role, contributing mostly on special teams by handling punt return duties with two returns for 35 yards in the season-opening victory vs. Pittsburgh (9/8).
• Saw limited snaps offensively but returned three punts for a season-high 49 yards in the victory at Washington (10/6).
• Saw an increase in playing time on offense due to injuries to Josh Gordon and Phillip Dorsett. Caught two passes for 34 yards while returning one punt for 10 yards in the win vs. N.Y. Giants (10/10). First NFL reception came on a 5-yard completion in the second quarter and caught a 29-yard pass in the fourth quarter. Also made a special teams tackle.

COLLEGE

• Invited to New England's rookie mini camp following a workout at the University of Minnesota Pro Day.
• Played defensive back throughout college career before making the switch to wide receiver in pursuit of an NFL career.
• Named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Defensive Player of the Year and voted BSU's Defensive and Special Teams MVP following his senior season in 2018, totaling 63 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups. Also returned 16 punts for 269 yards.
• Played in all 11 games as a junior in 2017 and was named NSIC North Division All-Conference First Team Defense after making 67 tackles, a sack, one interception and a team-leading seven pass break-ups.
• Appeared in 11 games and totaled 95 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass break-ups as a sophomore in 2016. Broke the Bemidji State University record for punt returns (7) and punt return yards (194) in a game vs. Minnesota Crookston on Nov. 12 and was named NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week.
• Played in all 11 games and was named NSIC Newcomer of the Year after posting 85 tackles, five pass break-ups, a forced fumble and seven interceptions as a true freshman in 2015. Also returned 24 punts for 209 yards.

PERSONAL

• Father, Eric, played minor league baseball as a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves organization.
• Earned varsity letters in both football and baseball at Alvin High School (Texas).
• Holds his high school's record for tackles in a season (150) as well as career tackles (270) and career interceptions (7).