After four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver Calvin Austin III is moving on. According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Austin is signing a one-year deal with the New York Giants worth up to $4.5 million.
Former Steelers free agent receiver Calvin Austin is signing a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million with the NY Giants, per agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln. pic.twitter.com/XPZK4QenlV
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2026
In four seasons with the Steelers, Austin played in 48 games with 16 starts, hauling in 84 passes for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 11 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown.
So far, Pittsburgh’s replaced Austin by trading for Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. The team is likely to draft the position early next month, possibly in the first round.
Language of the contract will be important, but losing Austin on that deal seems unlikely to net Pittsburgh a compensatory pick in the formula.
A speedster coming out of Memphis, Austin was the second receiver the Steelers selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, and outlasted George Pickens in the Steel City. Though he missed his rookie season with a foot injury, Austin bounced back to become a productive offensive piece for the Steelers, especially in the last two seasons.
During the 2025 season, all three of Austin’s touchdown catches from quarterback Aaron Rodgers wound up being the game-winning scores. He found the end zone in the fourth quarter in wins over the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens, the latter of which won the AFC North for Pittsburgh. His touchdown route was named the best route run in the NFL during the 2025 season.
Despite decent production last season, Austin battled injuries throughout the year, causing him to miss three games. He injured his oblique in training camp, which caused him to miss most of the season preparation. Then, he suffered a shoulder injury in the Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland, before returning in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers.
At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Steelers GM Omar Khan admitted the Steelers weren’t good enough at the receiver position in 2025 behind DK Metcalf, so it’s not surprising the franchise is resetting at the position, letting Austin walk. The veteran receiver stated shortly after the loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round that while he wanted to return to Pittsburgh, the team “might not” want him.
In the end, the Steelers decided not to bring Austin back, and now he gets a fresh start elsewhere.
Austin is the latest free agent to sign elsewhere. Offensive guard Isaac Seumalo signed with the Arizona Cardinals, cornerback James Pierre went to the Minnesota Vikings, and running back Kenneth Gainwell and safety Miles Killberew joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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