Julius Welschof Bio
Julius Welschof is a German professional American football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and weighing 265 lb (120 kg), he wears jersey number 45 and occupies an international roster spot through the International Player Pathway Program. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and the Charlotte 49ers before signing with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
Welschof grew up in Bavaria and first encountered the sport as a teenager in the United States before returning to Germany to begin his playing career. His journey from European youth athletics to a Super Bowl contender organization has made him one of the few German-born players on an active NFL roster.
Early Life and Background
Julius Welschof was born on March 12, 1997, in Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany. He grew up in the small Bavarian town and, before discovering American football, found early athletic success in skiing, winning youth championships in the sport. Welschof attended the vocational high school, or Fachoberschule, known as FOS Altötting, and graduated from that school.
After finishing high school, Welschof traveled to the United States in 2013 to visit a friend of his grandfather in Jacksonville, Florida. While in Florida, he learned about American football and was told that he might be skilled at the sport, a suggestion that surprised him because he was only 16 and had never played the game. After watching a Jacksonville Jaguars practice, Welschof described himself as being hooked, and he returned to Germany determined to find a team.
Back home, he joined the Munich Cowboys, a local club team, and began his organized American football career. In his first season with the Cowboys, he played tight end and earned Bavarian all-star honors, later adding defensive end to his responsibilities during his four years with the club.
Path to American Football
Welschof spent four seasons with the Munich Cowboys from 2013 to 2016, developing his skills and learning the game in the European club system. After his time in Munich, he decided to pursue an athletic scholarship to play college football in the United States, a step that required significant planning and resources.
To fund his journey, Welschof worked as a manufacturer at a Krones factory and also took on a side job renovating a house. He learned of Premier Players International, a service run by former Canadian Football League player Brandon Collier designed to help European players earn college opportunities. Welschof contacted Collier with his measurements and a 40-yard dash time of 4.5 seconds, later demonstrating his abilities to a skeptical Collier on a snow-covered field in below-freezing temperatures.
His athletic profile drew heavy interest, and he was ranked as the 12th-best defensive end recruit and a four-star prospect by 247Sports. Welschof initially committed to Georgia Tech before flipping his commitment to the Michigan Wolverines, launching his NCAA career.
Julius Welschof Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Welschof began his playing career with the Munich Cowboys, a club team in Germany, where he played both tight end and defensive end. In his first season, he earned Bavarian all-star honors, signaling his rapid development in a sport he had only recently discovered.
Across four seasons with the Cowboys, he built the foundation of his technique and physicality. By the end of his Munich tenure, Welschof was determined to test himself against higher-level competition and pursue a college career in the United States.
Michigan Wolverines (2018–2022)
Welschof redshirted as a true freshman at Michigan in 2018 and then appeared in one game during the 2019 season. In the 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, he appeared in all six games and totaled six tackles along with a half-sack, showing flashes of his potential.
Entering 2021, Welschof was named to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic’s annual “freaks” list, which highlights the most athletic college football players. That season, he appeared in all 14 games, with one start, and recorded 13 tackles and one pass breakup. The following year, he again played in all 14 games, mostly on special teams, and added six tackles, earning Michigan’s special teams player of the week after the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Following the 2022 season, Welschof entered the NCAA transfer portal, ending his five-year stint at Michigan with 25 tackles across 35 games played.
Charlotte 49ers (2023)
Seeking more playing time, Welschof transferred to the Charlotte 49ers for his final season of college football in 2023. He reunited with coaches Biff Poggi and Ryan Osborn, both of whom he had worked with at Michigan, and won a starting role with the program.
His senior season was cut short, however, when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury four games into the year. Welschof had totaled four tackles in those four starts before the injury, and he concluded his collegiate career with 29 tackles overall.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2024–Present)
Welschof returned from his shoulder injury in time for the Charlotte pro day, where he recorded a broad jump of 10 feet 3 inches in front of NFL scouts. After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent to play outside linebacker, using the team’s international roster spot through the International Player Pathway Program. He was also selected in the second round, 13th overall, of the 2024 CFL global draft by the Calgary Stampeders.
On August 27, 2024, Welschof was placed on injured reserve after a knee injury during a 2024 NFL preseason game. He was waived two days later with an injury settlement, then re-signed to the Steelers’ practice squad on November 26. On January 14, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract, was waived on August 25, and was re-signed to the practice squad before signing another reserve/futures contract on January 14, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Welschof’s physical profile stands out, with his 6 ft 6 in frame, 265 lb build, and verified 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed giving him the length and athleticism valued in modern edge defenders. His background as both a tight end and a defensive end has helped him develop versatility, while his special-teams contributions at Michigan reflected a willingness to do the unglamorous work that coaches value. Continued development in pass-rush technique and strength will be central to his progression toward a larger defensive role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Welschof’s selection for The Athletic’s “freaks” list ahead of the 2021 season stands as a clear marker of his athletic ceiling. He also became one of the few German-born players to sign with an NFL team in 2024, while also being drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the 2024 CFL global draft, an unusual double milestone for a European prospect.
Julius Welschof Career Highlights
Verified Series Highlights
Welschof’s college career spanned the Big Ten with the Michigan Wolverines from 2018 to 2022 and ended with a single season at the Charlotte 49ers in 2023. He concluded his NCAA career with 29 total tackles, including 25 at Michigan and four at Charlotte, along with a half-sack and one pass breakup. He also appeared in 35 games at Michigan across five seasons, including all 14 games in each of his junior and senior years.
Other Performances
Before college, Welschof earned Bavarian all-star honors in his first season with the Munich Cowboys, an early indicator of his rapid development in the sport. He later drew national attention as a four-star recruit and the 12th-ranked defensive end in his class by 247Sports, the highest-rated European recruit of his cycle.
Julius Welschof Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Welschof was raised in Miesbach, Bavaria, and his early athletic life centered on skiing, where he captured youth championships. His path to American football began through a family connection, a friend of his grandfather in Jacksonville, Florida, which first exposed him to the sport during a 2013 visit to the United States.
Personal Life
Welschof maintains ties to his Bavarian roots while pursuing his professional career in the United States. He is active on social media, where fans can follow his journey under his verified accounts.
2025 Season Performance
Welschof spent the early portion of the 2025 league year on a reserve/future contract signed in January, providing him an opportunity to compete in the Steelers’ offseason program. He was waived on August 25, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad, indicating that the organization values his developmental trajectory and athletic ceiling.
His work on the practice squad allowed him to continue refining his technique and build familiarity with the Steelers’ defensive scheme. The international roster spot he occupies under the International Player Pathway Program gives the team additional flexibility to develop him without using a standard roster position, an arrangement that can accelerate his path back to the active roster.
Looking ahead, Welschof will look to translate his physical tools into consistent production and earn a role on Pittsburgh’s active defense. A healthy 2025 campaign and a strong showing in training camp could position him for a larger special-teams role and, eventually, defensive snaps as he continues his development.