Calvin Austin

Calvin Austin's Biography

Calvin Austin III is a distinguished American professional football player, born on March 24, 1999. Currently, he plays as a wide receiver and punt returner for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL), displaying impressive skill and agility on the field and creating a formidable player in the sport. Austin has a long history with football, tracing his interest and abilities in the sport back to his college years at Memphis.

Born and rooted in Memphis, Tennessee, Calvin’s early life centered on his family and his passion for football. He attended Harding Academy and was raised in a household where family values were emphasized by his parents, Calvin Austin II and Mimi Austin. His life was enriched by the presence of his four sisters, Cami Bea, Claudia-Ruthie, Naomi Pearl, and Bella Rose, who offered a supportive environment for the budding sportsman.

Austin’s journey with professional football began in Memphis, where he enrolled in college and subsequently joined the college football team as a walk-on. It was a calculated decision, as he decided to redshirt his true freshman season, preserving a year of eligibility. His dedication and passion for the game were evident and rewarded in his redshirt sophomore year when he was given a scholarship. He finished that year with a notable record of 17 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns.

In his junior year, Austin’s career took an unprecedented leap as he managed to catch 61 passes for 1,053 yards and 11 touchdowns. This exceptional performance earned him the title of first-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC), a distinction he received again in his senior year. In his redshirt senior season, Austin finished with 74 receptions, 1149 yards, and eight touchdowns.

Upon the completion of his college career, Austin was selected to participate in the 2022 Senior Bowl, reflecting his unquestionable talent and dedication to the sport. Demonstrating the athleticism that later characterized his professional career, Austin also ran track at Memphis and was named a second-team All-American in 2019.

Austin’s transition from college to professional football came when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round, picked at 138th overall, during the 2022 NFL draft. However, misfortune befell early in his NFL career when he was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2022, due to a foot injury that worsened during the season, resulting in him being placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Despite the setback, Austin came back stronger in the 2023 season. The Steelers recognized his prowess and promoted him to the 53-man roster. Austin’s NFL career reached a new high when he caught his first NFL touchdown on a 72-yard deep pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett in a gripping 23-18 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders during the season’s third week. He scored his first rushing touchdown on a 7-yard run against the Cincinnati Bengals. In his rookie season, Austin finished with 17 receptions for 180 yards and one receiving touchdown, complemented by his rushing touchdown in one of the 17 games he started.

As Austin’s career progressed, he made an impressive postseason debut, scoring a receiving touchdown in the 31-17 loss to the Bills in the Wild Card Round. His career trajectory continued to ascend, and on September 22, 2024, Austin recorded a career-high 95 receiving yards against the Los Angeles Chargers. On October 28 of the same year, he achieved his first career punt return touchdown, a 73-yard return, and his inaugural career multi-touchdown game against the New York Giants, which earned him the title of AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Calvin Austin III’s journey through football, from his tentative beginnings in college to his assertive presence in the professional sphere, offers a captivating tale of dedication, resilience, and triumph. His story is a testament to the fact that with grit and determination, individuals can turn their raw inherent skills into an impressive career. Austin is a football player who has left his mark at each turn of his journey, with greater feats undoubtedly lying ahead in his career.