NFL CAREER – This talented wideout made an immediate impact as a rookie in 2022 and has served as a primary target for the Saints offense. The former Ohio State standout has appeared in 39 contests in his first three campaigns with 28 starts, totaling 191 receptions for 2,565 yards (13.4 avg) and ten touchdowns. After missing nine games in 2024 due to multiple concussions, Olave will look to build on his early success and continuing developing as one of the NFL's top young receivers in new Head Coach Kellen Moore's offense.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Exercised fifth-year option, 4/23/25; Placed on Injured Reserve, 11/9/24; Signed to a four-year contract, 5/13/22; Selected by New Orleans Saints in the first round (11th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2022: PFWA All-Rookie; Sports Info Solutions first-team All-Rookie; NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (September).
2024 – Started all eight games he appeared in, catching 32 passes for 400 yards (12.5 avg.) with one touchdown. Missed nine contests, including the final eight games following his second concussion, but returned to practice…vs Carolina, Sept. 8, started the opener and caught two passes for 11 yards…At Dallas, Sept. 15, started and caught four passes for 81 yards. Had first career rushing attempt that went for seven yards…Vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 22, started and led team in receiving, finishing with six catches for 86 yards and a TD. Olave's fourth quarter TD catch was the tenth of his NFL career…At Atlanta, Sept. 29, started and led the team in receiving for the second straight week, finishing with eight catches for 87 yards…At Kansas City, Oct. 7, made his 25th career start and caught two passes for ten yards…Vs Tampa Bay, Oct. 13, started and caught one pass for five yards. On his lone reception, Olave suffered a concussion and missed the remainder of the contest and the Week Seven vs. Denver…At L.A. Chargers, Oct. 27, started and led the team in receiving, finishing with eight receptions for a season-high 107 yards. Olave's performance was the first time this season a Saint finished with 100+ receiving yards and the tenth time he's done so in career…At Carolina, Nov. 3, caught one pass for 13 yards. Olave's lone catch resulted in another concussion, causing him to be placed on Injured Reserve and miss the final eight games of the 2024 campaign. 2023 – Appeared in 16 games with 11 starts, recording 87 receptions for 1,123 yards (12.9 avg) with five touchdowns. Led the Saints in both catches and receiving yards for the second straight season while adding his second 1,000 plus receiving campaign in as many years in the league. Olave joined Michael Thomas (2016) and Marques Colston (2006) as only the third Saint to cross the 1,000-yard threshold in their first two seasons season. Led New Orleans with 12 catches of 25 plus yards…Opened the season with eight grabs for a team-high 112 yards (14.0 avg.), including a 45-yard catch down the sideline in win vs Tennessee, Sept. 10…Finished with six receptions for 86 yards (14.3 avg.) in Monday Night Football win at Carolina, Sept. 18…Added eight catches for 104 yards (13.0 avg.) at Green Bay, Sept. 24…Racked up 96 yards on seven grabs (13.7 avg.) at Houston, Oct. 15…Totaled six grabs for 46 yards and his second touchdown of the season in a win vs Chicago, Nov. 5…Recorded six receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown at Minnesota, Nov. 12…Totaled 114 yards on seven catches (16.3 avg.) and a season-long 51 yard grab at Atlanta, Nov. 26…Recorded second straight 100-plus yard performance, totaling 119 yards on five receptions for a season-high 23.8 avg vs. Detroit, Dec. 3…Vs Carolina, Dec. 10, added four grabs for 28 yards and a game-sealing TD late in the fourth quarter. Left the game following the touchdown score due to an ankle injury causing him to miss the following week…Racked up season-highs in both receptions (nine) and yards (123) at L.A. Rams, Dec. 21…Recorded three catches for 56 yards, including a tip drill contested highlight grab for a 26-yard touchdown in season finale win vs Atlanta, 1/7/24. 2022 – Appeared in 15 games with nine starts, finishing with season totals of team-high 72 catches for club-best 1,042 yards (team-best 14.5 avg.) and four TDs. Olave joined Michael Thomas (2016) and Marques Colston (2006) as only the third Saint to cross the 1,000-yard threshold in their rookie seasons. Joined WR Danny Abramowicz (1967, 50 receptions for 721 yards, 14.4 avg.) as only the second Saint to lead the team in receptions, receiving yards and yards per catch in rookie campaign…Ranked first among rookies in receiving yards per game (69.5) and 50-or-more receiving yard games (12), second among rookies in receiving yards and tied for second in receptions…In opener at Atlanta, Sept. 11, caught three passes for 41 yards, including a critical two-point conversion in NFL debut, as New Orleans rallied from a 16-point fourth quarter deficit to win 27-26…Vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 18, started and recorded five receptions for 80 yards (16.0 avg.), including a 51-yard reception…At Carolina, Sept. 25, recorded a career-high nine catches for a career-high 147 yards (16.3 avg.). Named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for September, as he recorded 17 grabs for 268 yards with a two-point conversion, leading league rookies in receiving yardage…Vs. Minnesota (London), Oct. 2, started and led team in receiving, with four catches for 67 yards (16.8 avg.) and his first-career touchdown…Vs. Seattle, Oct. 9, started and caught four passes for 54 yards and a TD. Left game with a concussion suffered on his touchdown catch in third quarter, which caused him to miss one game…At Arizona, Oct. 20, started and finished with seven receptions for 106 yards (15.1 avg.), leading team in receiving yardage and tying for team lead in catches…Vs. Baltimore, Nov. 7, started and recorded five receptions for 71 yards, seventh consecutive performance with 50+ receiving yards…At Pittsburgh, Nov. 13, recorded three receptions for 40 yards…Vs. L.A. Rams, Nov. 20, led Saints with five catches for 102 yards (20.4 avg.) and a career-long 53-yard touchdown reception in third quarter, his third career 100-yard game…At San Francisco, Nov. 27, started and recorded five receptions for 62 yards (12.4 avg.)…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 5, recorded four receptions for 65 yards (16.3 avg.)…Vs. Atlanta, Dec. 18, started and recorded three receptions for 53 yards (17.7 avg.)…At Philadelphia, 1/1/23, started and recorded four receptions for 42 yards...Vs. Carolina, 1/8/23, recorded five receptions for 60 yards with a 25-yard TD.
COLLEGE – One of the most prolific receivers in Buckeyes history, played in 47 games and caught 176 passes for 2,711 yards (15.4 avg.) with 35 touchdowns. Olave's 35 career touchdown receptions set an Ohio State program record and ranks fourth in Big Ten Conference history. His 11 career 100-yard games ranks second in school history…As senior, selected team captain and was named first-team All-Big Ten for second consecutive season, when he started all 12 games. Nominated as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and named a consensus second-team All-American. Finished with 65 receptions for 936 yards with 13 TDs, tied for sixth nationally…Recorded a career-high 12 receptions for 126 yards against Oregon. Had a career-high 140 receiving yards in a win over seventh-ranked Michigan State. Finished season with five games over 100 yards receiving. Named first-team All-Big Ten in 2020, when he started all seven games he played in for COVID-19 shortened season. Led the Buckeyes in receiving for the second year in a row, finishing with 50 catches for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. Tied an Ohio State single-season record for average receptions per game (7.1). Caught six passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-28 Sugar Bowl win over Clemson to advance the Buckeyes into the National Championship game…Blossomed into one of the top receivers for the Big Ten champions as a sophomore in 2019. Finished with team-highs in receiving yards (849), yards per catch (17.3) and touchdowns (12), playing in all 14 games with five starts and was named third-team All-Big Ten…Played in 14 games as a true freshman in 2018, making a name for himself as a big-play wide receiver and on special teams. After catching only two passes in his first nine games, Finished his freshman campaign with ten catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns in the final five games of season. Highlight of freshman season was on one of the biggest stages of college football against Michigan, where he caught two TDs and blocked a punt in a 62-39 win over fourth-ranked Wolverines. Finished the year with twelve receptions for 197 yards and three TDs…Graduated with a bachelor's degree in consumer and family financial services.
PERSONAL – Attended Mission Hills (San Marcos, Calif.), HS, where he enjoyed a monster senior campaign, catching 93 passes for a San Diego Section-record 1,764 yards (18.9 avg.) and 26 touchdowns…Sat out his junior campaign after transferring to Mission Hills from Eastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.) HS, where he played his first two high school campaigns...Played basketball and ran track in high school…Playing baseball until age 12, Olave is a relative of former San Diego Padres outfielder Gene Richards…Ran a 10.8 100-meter dash and long jumped 23 feet, six inches…Older brothers Isiah (UC Davis) and Josh (Azusa Pacific) both played defensive back in college…For the team's 2022 Week Four game against Minnesota in London, Olave wore custom cleats paying tribute to his Cuban heritage…Partnered with the local Boys and Girls Club for a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway on the Westbank and a Christmas party at the club in Slidell in 2022…In 2023 joined Alontae Taylor and Rashid Shaheed to work with youth at Martin Behrman Charter School to help open a new fit zone with a football experience, promoting healthy lifestyles…Interacted with fans at 2023 Saints Draft Crawfish Cook-off, which benefited Autism-related non-profits…In October, 2023 he and teammates joined Ochsner oncology patients and their supporters for a dinner at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center…In December, 2023, Olave hosted a holiday shopping spree for Boys and Girls Club youth and teamed up with United Healthcare to host a holiday toy giveaway at the Central City Senior Center…In February, 2024, participated in the Ochsner Healthcare Student Expo, which enabled students to network with industry leaders, receive career coaching, participate in mock interviews and resume reviews and receive free professional headshots…In 2024, he, Taylor and Carl Granderson visited with students at Alice Harte Charter ahead of standardized testing week...Hosts an annual youth football camp at Mission Hills…Super Bowl week, one of four NFL players and several celebrities, who participated in the Proctor and Gamble Battle of the Paddles ping pong tournament.
