State native Calitro making strong push for Giants roster spot
Used to having to prove himself each time he steps on the field, Danbury’s Austin Calitro made a huge impression on the Giants Sunday when he returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in the Giants 31-27 loss to the Jets in the preseason finale for both.
Calitro, a Danbury High graduate, has always known it would be an uphill battle to win a roster spot on any squad since entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie out of Villanova in 2017. Adding the Giants to his list, Calitro has been on nine NFL teams over the past six seasons.
While much of Calitro’s NFL career has been on practice squads, he played 16 games with the Seahawks in 2018, 13 for the Jaguars in 2019 and 13 with the Broncos in 2020. Calitro also appeared in five games for the Bengals last season, but did not play during the playoffs.
“As the undrafted guys (you) got to show you know, you’re able to play when your number’s called,” Calitro told reporters Sunday.
Before players are awarded minutes in the NFL, trust must be earned from the coaching staff. In this case with New York, Caltiro believes that trust was formed over a few special characteristics of his.
“I think I picked up the playbook pretty fast and you know, I think from my resume with other teams, they can plug me in and play me,” Calitro said. “I’ve also kind of survived this long because I was able to play special teams as well so I can kind of do everything they need me to do right now and help other guys as well.”
Usually appearing on practice squads, Calitro is well aware that every mo
ment counts in the NFL. When his moment came this past Sunday against the Jets, Calitro remained calm under pressure and took advantage.
Recalling the pick six Calitro said, “it was kind of a broken play, ( Jets quarterback) Joe (Flacco) was rolling out to his right, our left, and he got close to that sideline. I saw (OLB Oshane Ximinies) Ox number 53 come, and as soon as I saw him, I felt that receiver behind me, so I just fell back a little bit, he threw it, and I don’t think he saw me right away. And you saw the result, it ended up being a pick six.”
Remaining nimble near the sideline Caltrio stayed inbounds and took it all the way to the end zone for a touchdown. Since he has not had a prominent role on any former team, the commentators made the mistake of believing the ball was intercepted by Giants’ linebacker Tomon Fox. They quickly corrected themselves once they caught their misstep.
In a postgame interview Calitro was asked what he was thinking when running to the end zone. He laughed and said, “get there. Leave no doubt kind of thing.”
On top of the touchdown and pick-six, Calitro recorded five tackles.
New York’s Ximinies said, “(Calitro) balled out today. He’s a guy that came in and has worked since the first day he got here. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”
Ximinies was not the only one to share kind words about Calitro last Sunday.
Giants coach Brian Daboll said Calitro is, “tough, dependable and smart. (Calitro’s) done a good job in the kicking game. He’s really been a good addition for us at that spot.”