Steelers special teams ace Gunner Olszewski believes NFL wants to eliminate his value with rule changes

The NFL has made several rule changes in recent years to lessen the dangers of key special teams plays, particularly on returns. In 2023, one of the biggest changes yet will come.

The league has passed a rule that allows players receiving kickoffs to call for a fair catch, which will grant the offense the ball at the 25-yard line. Presumably it will significantly reduce the overall number of kick returns.

Not everyone is happy about that.

“A bunch of people are trying to get rid of our part of the game,” Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Gunner Olszewski said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “That’s how we feel about it. They feel like special teams are dangerous. Football is a dangerous game. You can’t ever take that out of it. I hate it for the game, but it’s the rule now. I’m just rolling with it.”

Aptly named, Gunner Olszewski serves as a return man and works on the coverage teams. The rule changes will likely diminish his snaps a good deal, in theory making him less valuable to the team.

He’s not the only one in his position.

Hundreds of players across the NFL attempt to gain a foothold on a roster primarily through their ability to double up on special teams in addition to their normal position. And they didn’t have much say in the rule changes.

“The [NFLPA] doesn’t give us a chance to vote on anything like that,” Olszewski said. “I’m not looking to complain about it. I hate it. I think it stinks for guys who are teamers and guys who try to go out and get jobs. They’re taking chances away from us.”

In four seasons in the NFL, Olszewski has recorded just 14 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown and 14 carries for 71 yards. He’s mostly a lightly used, occasional gadget player on offense.

He’s had a much more significant impact on special teams, racking up 74 punt returns for 889 yards and a touchdown and 39 kick returns for 880 yards. He’s even chipped in 12 tackles on special teams.

But with the new rule changes, there’s no guarantee he will retain that value going forward.

Olszewski was able to make a roster in the NFL despite not coming from a powerhouse program like Alabama or Ohio State. He was undrafted out of college at Bemidji State, a Division II program in Minnesota. After working out in rookie minicamps for the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots, he was retained in New England.

He spent three years playing for the Patriots before he was signed to a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2022 season.