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Calvin Austin III Shares Touching Story of His Father Raising Three Kids Alone After Family Hardship

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver Calvin Austin III has revealed a deeply personal story about the struggles and sacrifices that shaped his path to the NFL.

Austin grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, in a household where hardship hit hard. His father, Calvin Austin II, shouldered the responsibility of raising three children on his own after a family setback left him without his wife by his side

 
 

“My father carried the weight of both parents. He was strict when he needed to be, but he also gave us the love and warmth that held our family together. I owe everything to him,”

Austin shared.

 
 

The wideout recalled that years later, when he had already made his mark as an NFL player, his mother returned. In a gesture of forgiveness, his father welcomed her back into the family so they could move forward together. For Austin, that moment represented not just healing, but the strength of the values he carries onto the field every Sunday.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Austin overcame early setbacks, including a foot injury that cost him his rookie season. By 2024, he emerged as one of the Steelers’ most explosive playmakers, combining blazing 4.32 speed with a knack for big plays both as a receiver and punt returner.

 
 

Through 37 career games, he has totaled 61 receptions for 854 yards and nine touchdowns, along with one rushing score. He has also delivered as a return man, producing 538 punt return yards and one memorable touchdown.

The 2025 season has already highlighted his growth. After Pittsburgh traded George Pickens to Dallas and signed DK Metcalf, Austin stepped firmly into the WR2 role. In the first three weeks, he recorded eight catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 17-yard score against the Patriots.

 
 

For Steelers fans, Austin’s story adds another layer to his rise. His speed and playmaking light up the field, but it is his father’s sacrifice and forgiveness that fuel his resilience. Every catch, every return, is more than just football—it is a testament to the values he learned at home.

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Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side