Karsen Barnhart Bio
Karsen Barnhart (born March 2, 2001) is an American professional football guard. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he was an All-Big Ten selection, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a College Football Playoff national championship in 2023. After going undrafted in 2024, Barnhart signed with the Los Angeles Chargers and has since spent time with the Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Green Bay Packers.
Listed at 6 feet 4 inches tall and around 306 pounds, Barnhart wears jersey number 61 and plays primarily along the interior offensive line. His career has taken him through four NFL organizations in just over a year, building a résumé as a versatile lineman capable of playing tackle and guard.
Early Life and Background
Karsen Barnhart was born on March 2, 2001, in Paw Paw, Michigan, a small community in the southwestern part of the state. He is the son of Jeff Barnhart and Jennifer Barnhart, and he grew up attending local schools while playing multiple sports. At Paw Paw High School, he competed in baseball, basketball, and football, developing the athletic foundation that would later fuel his football career.
During his time at Paw Paw, Barnhart lined up at tight end as a junior while also spending his first two years at offensive tackle. He finished his high school career with 17 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to his work at offensive tackle. His play earned All-State honors from the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press, and The Detroit News, and he was ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 15 guard nationally by 247Sports, as well as the No. 7 player in Michigan.
Coming out of high school, Barnhart drew scholarship offers from several major programs, including Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and USC. He committed to the University of Michigan in April 2018, choosing to stay close to home and join one of the most storied programs in college football history.
Path to Professional Football
After arriving at Michigan, Barnhart worked his way up a deep offensive line depth chart across multiple seasons. He appeared in two games as a freshman in 2019 and broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, starting four games at left tackle in place of the injured Ryan Hayes. By his junior year in 2021, he had become a regular contributor on a Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line.
As a senior in 2022, Barnhart started nine games at offensive tackle and was again part of a Joe Moore Award-winning unit, earning Michigan’s most improved player on offense award. He capped his college career as a graduate student in 2023, starting all 15 games for the Wolverines and helping them capture a national championship. Following the season he was named second-team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches, and on January 6, 2024, he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Karsen Barnhart Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Barnhart’s early career was defined by steady development within the Michigan Wolverines program. He began as a reserve left tackle and special teams contributor in 2019, then earned starts at left tackle in 2020 after Hayes went down with an injury. His reliability earned him a larger role on one of the most respected offensive lines in college football.
From 2021 through 2022, he started 11 games combined and was part of back-to-back Joe Moore Award-winning offensive lines, recognized as the best unit in college football. He added All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2022 and the team’s most improved player on offense award, setting the stage for his breakout graduate season.
2023 National Championship Season
In his final college season, Barnhart started all 15 games for the Wolverines, lining up at right tackle, right guard, and left tackle. He was a key piece of an offensive line that powered Michigan’s run to a third consecutive Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff national championship in 2023.
When starting right guard Zak Zinter suffered a broken tibia and fibula in the regular season finale against Ohio State, Barnhart shifted from right tackle to guard for the remainder of the postseason. He performed well in that role and was named second-team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches after the season. The national title run cemented his status as a draft-eligible prospect with starting experience at multiple line positions.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2024–2025)
After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Barnhart signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on April 27, 2024, reuniting him with former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. He was waived on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad the same day before later signing a reserve/future contract on January 13, 2025.
On August 26, 2025, Barnhart was released by the Chargers as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, only to be waived again on August 31. His stint in Los Angeles gave him his first NFL experience under a coaching staff he already knew well.
Denver Broncos Stint (2025)
On October 14, 2025, Barnhart was signed to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, giving him an opportunity within a different AFC West organization. He spent only one week with Denver before being waived on October 21, 2025, continuing his search for a stable NFL home.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stint (2025)
Barnhart joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad on November 5, 2025, adding a third NFL team to his résumé in a single season. He was released by Tampa Bay on November 21, 2025, after roughly two weeks with the organization.
Green Bay Packers Era (2025–Present)
On December 31, 2025, the Green Bay Packers signed Barnhart to their practice squad, providing him a late-season opportunity in the NFC North. He signed a reserve/future contract with Green Bay on January 12, 2026, locking in a path to compete for a roster spot the following year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Barnhart is valued for his positional versatility along the offensive line, having started games at left tackle, right tackle, and guard during his college career. His combination of size, footwork developed from playing basketball, and ability to switch positions mid-season made him a useful depth piece for multiple NFL organizations. Coaches have leaned on his practice squad experience as a foundation to grow into a longer-term role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Barnhart’s career is his role on Michigan’s 2023 national championship team and his mid-season position switch at right guard following Zak Zinter’s injury. Going undrafted in 2024 and still carving out an NFL career, while moving through four organizations in roughly 18 months, stands as a testament to his persistence and adaptability.
Karsen Barnhart Career Wins
At the NFL level, Barnhart has yet to record a regular-season start in the box score, with his time spent on practice squads and reserve/future contracts across the Chargers, Broncos, Buccaneers, and Packers. At the college level, however, he collected three consecutive Big Ten Conference championships and a College Football Playoff national championship in 2023, along with second-team All-Big Ten recognition.
Michigan Wolverines Highlights
Barnhart started all 15 games for the 2023 national champions and was part of two Joe Moore Award-winning offensive lines in 2021 and 2022. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the conference coaches and All-Big Ten honorable mention the year prior, marking him as one of the more decorated undrafted linemen in his class.
Other Performances
At Paw Paw High School, Barnhart was a multi-sport athlete and a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 15 guard nationally by 247Sports. He received All-State recognition from three major Michigan outlets, underscoring the regional acclaim that followed him to Ann Arbor.
Karsen Barnhart Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Barnhart was raised in Paw Paw, Michigan, by his parents, Jeff Barnhart and Jennifer Barnhart. He grew up in a tight-knit community where he played multiple sports, including baseball, basketball, and football, before focusing on the offensive line.
Personal Life
Barnhart is a United States citizen who grew up and continues to be identified with his hometown of Paw Paw, Michigan. Public details about his personal relationships, marital status, or children are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Barnhart’s 2025 season was defined by movement rather than statistical production. After spending the early part of the year on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad, he was released in late August and quickly bounced through practice squad stints with the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October and November.
His late-season signing by the Green Bay Packers on December 31, 2025, gave him a fresh opportunity and led to a reserve/future contract on January 12, 2026. That deal secures his place in Green Bay’s offseason plans and offers a clear runway to compete for a depth role along the offensive line in the year ahead.
Looking ahead, Barnhart’s outlook centers on earning a spot on the Packers’ 53-man roster through training camp. His track record of starting at multiple positions in a championship-level college program, combined with practice squad experience in three different NFL schemes, gives him a credible path to stick in the league.