Former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III says his early NFL role under Matt Canada left him feeling used more like a gadget player than a full-time target. Now with the New York Giants, Austin believes his versatility—playing inside and outside—ca
Calvin Austin III’s answer sounded simple, but it carried the weight of a career he thinks was held back.
“When do I fit in? I can play inside. I can play outside. And that’s something that people will see,” Austin told Go Long’s Ty Dunne.
It’s the kind of quote that lands differently when you’ve watched Austin play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His speed was never hard to see. What bothered Steelers fans—at least those who argued his talent deserved more—was how often his role didn’t feel built around him becoming a consistent. down-to-down receiver.
Austin arrived in Pittsburgh when the spotlight was already shifting toward defined roles in the passing game. But in 2023. under then-offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Austin felt he was often treated more like a gadget player than a full-time wideout. His usage leaned toward manufactured touches. motion. and occasional deep shots. rather than letting him develop into a more complete target.
Then, something changed.
In 2024 and 2025, Austin’s role looked more like what he believed he could be all along. He was used more like a legitimate wideout, and production followed. Over those two seasons. Austin caught 67 passes for 920 yards and seven touchdowns—numbers that suggested he wasn’t only built for stretching the field or scripted bursts.
Now he’s getting a new chance with the New York Giants. stepping into a receiver room that has suddenly filled up with familiar names. On Monday, Odell Beckham Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster joined Big Blue. After free agency opened, Darnell Mooney and Austin arrived. Malik Nabers is already the headliner. Darius Slayton remains in the mix, and Malachi Fields was added in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Austin may not see himself as the top option in a crowded room. Still, the way he describes his fit—inside, outside, and threatening defenses vertically—matches exactly the kind of flexibility teams look for when they’re trying to keep defenses guessing.
The sequence of Austin’s career. at least as he tells it. is hard to ignore: 2023 brought manufactured usage under Matt Canada. and 2024 and 2025 brought a more settled wideout role with production to match. The Giants are betting that version of Austin can carve out meaningful space in their offense.
In New York, his message is clear. He doesn’t want to be remembered only for gadget touches or occasional deep shots. He wants the chance to show that his best football isn’t limited—just by how a coordinator chooses to use him, or where he starts on the formation.
Calvin Austin III New York Giants Pittsburgh Steelers Matt Canada NFL receivers Malik Nabers Odell Beckham Jr. JuJu Smith-Schuster Darnell Mooney Darius Slayton Malachi Fields