Scintillating in Cincy Danbury alum Austin Calitro helps Bengals clinch division title
Danbury High School alumni Austin Calitro took the field for the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday as his team clinched the NFC North with a 34-31 win over the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The linebacker, who is in the midst of his fifth NFL season, was signed off the practice squad on December 27th, made two tackles in the victory.
Calitro was a first team All-State selection out of Danbury as a senior in 2011 under former head coach and current Danbury Principal Dan Donovan, and was a member of the Danbury Trojans Pop Warner program as well.
“He was a pleasure to coach and he always would go the extra mile, which has really worked out for him,” Donovan said. “He knew how to turn it on, and when he did, he was lights out. I remember specifically a game against Trumbull, there was a lot of banter back and forth. He took it personal and decided to put on a show that game both running the ball and playing linebacker. That was just a trait he had.”
Calitro ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries while making six tackles in the 39-14 win on October 28th, 2011.
Fast forward to this past weekend, Calitro was on the field as his team clinched a postseason berth for the second time in his fouryear NFL career.
“When I was in Seattle we beat the Chiefs 38-31 to clinch and this time it was 34-21, so I have gotten to clinch twice against the Chiefs now,” Calitro said. “My college roommate (Tanoh Kpassagnon) was on that first Chiefs team, so it is always fun to talk a little smack to him.”
This past Sunday was among the career highlights thus far for Calitro, who has been a journeyman of sorts throughout his professional career.
In 2017 he was signed and released by the Jets before signing a two-year deal with the 49ers. He was waived about a month later and signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad a month after that.
“If you really want it, you need to work that much longer and that much harder than everyone else,” Calitro said. “In Connecticut you are a big fish in a small pond, but once you get to that next level you start to see where the talent level really is.”
Calitro re-signed with the Browns for the 2018 season and was placed on waivers. He then signed with the Seahawks where he played until September of 2019 when he was waived yet again.
“When we text or see each other, he talks about how hard it is and how much of a grind it has been,” Donovan said. “It shows how resilient he is. It is a passion for him, and he wants to play. He has done an excellent job navigating the business aspect of this and never giving up.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed Calitro off waivers, and then the Bengals after that in April 2020.
A few days later he was traded to the Denver Broncos for Christian Covington, and in 2021 as a free agent he signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears.
“Preseason I was with the Bears and ended up getting hurt, so it took me a little while longer than I wanted to get back from injury,” Calitro said. “Being year five now, I understand the ropes and I took my time getting back.”
On November 15, once he was recovered, Calitro made his return to the Bengals.
“When I got traded from Cincinnati last year I left it on good terms, and they said if they had an opportunity to bring me back, they would like to get that done,” Calitro said. “When they called, I jumped at it and signed with the practice squad. I did that for a few weeks and then my number was called, and I haven’t looked back since.”
Calitro has played in four games this year after playing 13 in each of the previous two years and 16 games back in 2018 with the Seahawks.
With Week 18 approaching and the postseason looming, the Danbury product’s relentless pursuit in the face of adversity serves as inspiration.
“If you do things the right way and are willing to go above and beyond, it pays off,” Calitro said. “At this point in my career I think I have done enough hard work to earn opportunities I wouldn’t have gotten as a 22-year-old kid.”
Calitro will turn 28 on January 10, which has given him some perspective on the ups and downs of his career thus far.
“I guess the best way to put it is I went form a 22year-old kid and now I am turning 28 this week, so I really grew into a man in the NFL,” Calitro said. “The first couple of seasons were not fun, but you keep working and you start to cultivate relationships and it comes full circle.”
Calitro has been unwavering throughout any struggles, which is a trait he attributes to his days in Danbury.
“In Danbury, I think everybody knows the bluecollar attitude we take, and I brought that with me to the NFL,” Calitro said. “I am proud to be a product of Danbury, it means everything to me. Some of my best friends that I grew up with I still talk to today, and they still come to my games. I am playing for something a lot bigger than me, and I hope there are kids in Danbury who can look to me and see it is possible to achieve your dreams.”
The Bengals will travel to Cleveland to face the Browns in the regularseason finale on Sunday, and Calitro will proudly represent his hometown yet again.
“I think the whole Hatters program and athletics are extremely proud of him and everything he has done,” Donovan said. “He has worked hard, and he shows exactly what we expect from all of our student athletes. Put your nose to the grindstone, work hard and treat people the right way. He has done all of that.”