GREEN BAY – Kristian Welch is back.
The veteran linebacker has re-signed with the Packers for whom he recorded six coverage tackles in 14 regular-season games during the 2023 season.
Welch, 26, has 40 career tackles with a fumble recovery in 72 regular-season games (two starts) during his time with the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Green Bay.
Here are five things to know about the returning Packers linebacker:
- Welch is a Wisconsinite through and through.
He was born and raised in Iola, Wis., a town of roughly 1,203 people located 75 minutes west of Green Bay. Welch's graduating class was 52 students.
A lifelong Packers fan, Welch told packers.com after the 2023 season that it was a dream come true for him and his family to play in Green Bay.
"That was probably one of the most wholesome parts of being so close is being able to have family and friends come to every game," Welch said. "I had at least 10 family and friends come to every home game. Having their support, being able to talk to them after the game at the house and everything, that part was really fun and really special for me."
Welch starred as both a running back and linebacker at Iola-Scandinavia High School. As a senior, Welch rushed for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns on 85 carries 85 times (11.8-yard average) fan recorded 75 tackles on defense.
He earned both all-state and all-region honors, along with serving as a team captain and MVP on the school's basketball team.
- He was a special-teams stalwart for Green Bay.
After playing four seasons with Baltimore, Welch signed to the Packers' practice squad prior to the start of the 2023 regular season.
It didn't take long for the 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker to receive a promotion to the active roster, signing to the 53 prior to the Packers' Week 4 contest vs. Detroit on Sept. 28.
Playing exclusively on special teams, Welch finished with the third-most coverage tackles (six) and fourth-most snaps (210) in 12 regular-season appearances thatyear.
He re-signed with Green Bay after the season and made a convincing bid for a spot on the initial 53-man roster, leading the Packers in the preseason with 16 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Welch was unable to crack Green Bay's deep linebacker room but landed quickly with the Denver Broncos. He made his first two career starts on defense in 2024 and finished the season with 13 tackles and a fumble recovery in 15 appearances.
- Welch enjoyed his time playing for Rich Bisaccia.
The Packers' special teams coordinator and Welch developed a lot of mutual respect during their season together in 2023.
"I love Rich. He's great," said Welch last August. "Learning his system has been fun. And really kind of getting to hone in on the certain little details as we've gone through training camp here too has been fun."
While Welch didn't make the Packers' 53 last summer, there is less congestion at linebacker this offseason after veteran Eric Wilson signed with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this month. The 30-year-old Wilson led Green Bay in special teams snaps in each of the past two seasons.
- This isn't Welch's first encore with an NFL team.
Welch entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Baltimore in 2020. He bounced back and forth between the Ravens' practice squad and active roster before settling in to play 43 games over his first four NFL seasons.
After receiving his release from Denver last October, Welch returned to the Ravens' practice squad for a month before receiving a promotion back to Baltimore's 53.
Welch saw action in nine regular-season games for the Ravens, recording five tackles and recording his first regular-season fumble recovery in a 34-17 win over Pittsburgh on Dec. 21.
- He's one of many former Packers who played at Iowa.
Welch appeared in 46 games with 16 starts for the Hawkeyes from 2016-2019, recording 145 tackles (10½ for a loss), 4½ sacks, six passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
He was a defensive captain as a senior, starting at middle linebacker in all 10 games he played in. Welch led Iowa with 87 tackles (44 solo), adding nine tackles for a loss, three sacks, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
