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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.

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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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Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
  Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.