Calvin Austin III's 73-yard punt return touchdown opened the Pittsburgh Steelers' Monday night game against the New York Giants. Up until that point, it had been a hard-fought 9-9 game with both sides seeing touchdowns from the field. Austin would be first up, giving the Steelers the lead for good. As happy as Austin was to personally score his first punt return touchdown in the NFL, he was even happier to do it for special teams coordinator Danny Smith.

Austin joined Christian Kuntz's podcast in an episode released Thursday and reflected on what that touchdown meant.

“So it was really, probably one of the happiest moments for me,” Austin told the show. “I just got it for (Smith). Because I knew how much that meant to him. He always says that. “We have to get Calvin in the end zone.” “We have to get Calvin in the end zone.” For two years. When that happened, it was definitely very special to experience that moment with Danny.”

Pittsburgh had broken off good returns against Austin before, although some were called back due to a penalty. Nobody had reached the end zone. It was a long time coming since Smith's unit hadn't scored a return touchdown, kick or punt since Diontae Johnson's punt return score in 2019.

It was the latest impressive special teams play the Steelers have made in the last month. In the last four games, they have blocked two field goals, a punt and a runback for a score while the coverage teams and K Chris Boswell have remained solid. Boswell was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for two consecutive months. Everyone accepted Smith's coaching. Even at 71 years old, his energy and passion for his players make them give everything for him.

Like any big game in football, it was a coordinated effort with Austin using his speed and getting key blocks to propel him forward.

“The ball was spinning, so I saw it was sailing a bit. So I knew I would have space. And once I got it, I just stopped and thought, “I'm finally on the sidelines.” Like my dad always told me since I was little, “Trust your speed, trust your speed.” And so I just thought : “You know what, I just went to the sidelines.”

Austin has said in previous years that he planned to break out on the sideline, but then moved up when a lane became available and was tackled in the open grass. Here he continued running horizontally and caught the edge thanks to a key block from TE Rodney Williams.

“Rodney, that was the block… when I got to the edge, and I immediately didn't see anyone there. Then I thought, 'Yes, we have something.'”

As we noted in our breakdown of the play, Williams used the “airplane block” to shield himself from the defender while avoiding a potential block at the back. Austin similarly got key blocks from RB Jonathan Ward, while S Damontae Kazee shielded the punter to recover it the other way.

Here's a full look at the return.

Kuntz said he spoke with Giants long snapper Casey Kreiter before the game, who admitted Austin was “so damn fast.” Austin was able to show New York first-hand the play that turned the tide and put Pittsburgh at 6-2 heading into the bye week.

Check out the entire podcast below.