Wide receiver Calvin Austin III worked with two of the oldest quarterbacks in the league the past two seasons while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next season, Austin will catch passes from one of the youngest NFL signal-callers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Thursday evening the New York Giants agreed to a 1-year deal with Austin. The contract is worth up to $4.5 million.
Austin showed promise during his rookie contract in Pittsburgh. That was particularly true in 2024 when he averaged 15.2 yards per reception.
But Austin never truly broke out to be Pittsburgh WR2 opposite George Pickens or D.K. Metcalf.
In 2025, Austin finished the campaign with 31 catches for 372 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 12 yards per catch.
During the AFC wild card round, he had three receptions for eight yards.
Austin missed three contests in October because of a Week 4 shoulder injury he suffered during the Dublin game.
Calvin Austin III Signs With Giants: Report
Austin departing isn’t all that surprising.
Last summer, there was chatter about the Steelers bringing back Austin. But that subsided after the receiver didn’t repeat his 2024 success.
Austin was a nice match for Russell Wilson’s deep ball. That’s a big reason why he averaged more than 15 yards per reception during 2024.
With Aaron Rodgers, Austin caught all three of his touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games. Rodgers clearly trusted Austin in key moments. The receiver hauled in the eventual game-winning score in the Week 18 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
But Austin didn’t get a lot of volume or big-play opportunities with Rodgers behind center.
A week before free agency began, Rosenhaus Sports, which famous agent Drew Rosenhaus leads, announced they had taken on Austin as one of their newest clients.
Steelers pundits took that as a clear sign the receiver was headed elsewhere in free agency.
The Steelers drafted Austin at No. 138 overall in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He missed his entire rookie season because of injury.
Austin made 17 catches with 180 yards as a rookie. Outside of his 2024 campaign, Austin averaged under 11 yards per catch.
Overall, he departed Pittsburgh having caught 84 passes for 1,100 yards and eight scores.
Austin Leaving Steelers in 2026 NFL Free Agency
While he didn’t receive a second contract in Pittsburgh, Austin left with several fans in Steelers media.
After his signing Thursday, several Steelers pundits wished him well with his new contract.
In New York, he will likely be a deep threat for the Giants and second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. The Giants have to replace receiver Wan’Dale Robinson this offseason. Robinson left New York to sign a 4-year, $70 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.
On the first day of the league’s legal tampering period, the Steelers acquired veteran wideout Michael Pittman Jr. in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Pundits met the deal with some mixed reaction, but there are few that don’t see Pittman as an upgrade over Austin.
The Steelers acquired Pittman in a late Day 3 draft pick exchange. The team then signed Pittman to a 3-year, $59 million deal.
In addition to playing receiver, Austin returned punts from 2023-25 for the Steelers. Austin averaged 8.9 yards per return over his tenure.
During 2024, he averaged 10.3 yards per return while taking one return back for a touchdown.
Steelers Lose Calvin Austin III to NFC Foe for $4.5 Million: Report