Peter King names Gunner Olszewski among special teams players of the week
Gunner Olszewski made the biggest play of the game for the Giants on Sunday. With the team facing a 26-19 deficit late in the fourth quarter, Olszewski fielded a punt at the six-yard line, made a couple of strong moves and returned it 94 yards for a touchdown.
Olszewski is now being recognized by the media for his standout special teams performance in Week 17.
In his weekly "Football Morning in America" column, NBC Sports' Peter King named Olszewski among his special teams players of the week for his impressive punt return.
"We got some good blocks on their gunners and then Gunner got into that mix, did a great job of really securing the football," head coach Brian Daboll said Monday about the special teams touchdown. "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."
Olszewski joined the Giants in Week 8 after being waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his nine games with the team, the 27-year-old has returned 20 punts for 244 yards.
His 12.2 yards per punt return rank as the fifth-highest in the NFL this season.
Olszewski's 94-yard return against the Rams was the second longest in Giants history and the longest in 95 years. Additionally, it was the team's first punt return touchdown since Dwayne Harris scored on an 80-yard return against the Jets on December 6, 2015.
In addition to the long punt return, the Giants also scored a touchdown on an 80-yard pass from Tyrod Taylor to Darius Slayton. This marked the first time in Giants history (1,454 games, including the postseason) in which they had two touchdowns of 80 or more yards in the same game.
View photos from the Giants' Week 17 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) throws during the first half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) looks to pass on the run against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) looks to pass during the first half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball during the first half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) walks back to the bench after scoring a touchdown during the first half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) looks to pass during the first half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) looks to pass on the run against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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