Greg Olsen

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Olsen grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and attended Wayne Hills High School, where he played football and basketball under his father, Chris Olsen Sr. As a high school senior he was one of three finalists for the Gatorade Player of the Year award, along with former Miami Hurricane teammate Kyle Wright. He was a USA Today first-team All-American as a senior in 2002. He finished his career with 73 receptions for 1,474 yards, and a school-record 27 touchdowns. He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Olsen was listed as the No. 2 tight end in the nation in 2003, and the No. 2 prospect in New Jersey behind Nate Robinson. In track and field, Olsen competed in the throwing events and as a sprinter. He recorded a personal-best time of 11.40 seconds in the 100 meters. He placed 2nd in the shot put event at the 2003 NJSIAA Meet of Champions, recording a career-best throw of 18.03 meters. He also had top-throws of 46.63 meters in the discus throw and 59.83 meters in the javelin throw. Olsen originally enrolled at the University of Notre Dame, but transferred as a freshman to the University of Miami in 2003. In 2003, he was on the Hurricanes' scout team before suffering a shoulder injury and being redshirted. He became the starter of the Miami Hurricanes in his sophomore season in 2005 after Kevin Everett was drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Bills. In his career, he totaled 87 receptions for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns. In 2003, Olsen was one of the players that participated in the University of Miami's rap group, the 7th Floor Crew, under the pseudonym G-Reg. Many media sources ridiculed him for his involvement in the group, which earned national notoriety for their sexually explicit and vulgar lyrics.

In Their Own Story

In Week 16 of the 2016 season against the Atlanta Falcons, Olsen caught a 17-yard pass in the second quarter. That catch made him the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. The record capped a stretch where he posted 1,008 yards in 2014, 1,104 yards in 2015, and 1,073 yards in 2016. Earlier in 2015, during the Panthers' 41–38 victory over the New Orleans Saints that improved their record to 12–0, Olsen caught nine passes for 129 yards. During that game, he passed Wesley Walls for most career receptions by a tight end in Panthers history. In the NFC Divisional Round that season, he had six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown in a 31–24 win over the Seattle Seahawks, then caught six passes for 113 yards in the NFC Championship against the Arizona Cardinals to help the Panthers reach Super Bowl 50.

Reader's Guide

The Chicago Bears selected Olsen in the first round as the 31st overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. He signed a five-year contract with the team on July 3, which made him the first player of the draft's top 64 selections to come to terms with their team. He sustained a knee injury during the Bears' final preseason game in 2007, and consequently, he missed the team's first two games while recovering. He made his NFL debut on September 23, 2007, against the Dallas Cowboys, catching two passes for twenty-eight yards. Olsen caught his first touchdown two weeks later during a Week 5 match-up against the Green Bay Packers. Olsen finished the season with 39 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns. Olsen saw his playing time increase during his second season. He started 7 of 16 games, making 54 receptions for 574 yards and five touchdowns. He led the team in receiving touchdowns, while finishing second in receptions and receiving yards. Olsen was selected as a second alternate for the 2009 Pro Bowl. Chicago's Comcast SportsNet named Olsen the Bears Player of the Year. In 2009, Olsen quickly developed a rapport with Jay Cutler, whom the Bears had acquired from the Denver Broncos. Olsen and Cutler connected for 60 receptions, for 612 yards, and eight touchdowns. He led the Bears in receptions and touchdowns, while finishing behind Devin Hester for most receiving yards. Before the 2010 season the Bears fired Ron Turner and hired Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. His numbers dropped compared to his 2008 and 2009 seasons, as he recorded 41 receptions for 404 yards, and five touchdowns. However, Olsen helped the Bears win their first 2011 playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, catching three passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. On July 28, 2011, Olsen was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2012 third-round draft pick. During his first year with the Carolina Panthers, Olsen recorded 45 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns. In Week 10 of the 2012 season, against the Denver Broncos, Olsen recorded nine receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the 36–14 loss. In the 2012 season, he recorded 69 receptions for 843 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. In the 2013 season, Olsen recorded 73 receptions for 816 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns as the Panthers finished with a 12–4 record. Olsen finished the 2014 regular season wit

Did You Know?

• Olsen became the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
• He was a five-star recruit and the No. 2 tight end in the nation in 2003.
• Olsen participated in the University of Miami's rap group, the 7th Floor Crew, under the pseudonym G-Reg.
• He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round (31st overall) of the 2007 NFL draft.
• Olsen played his final season with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020.