Josh Ross Bio
Josh Ross, born on October 31, 1999, in Detroit, Michigan, is an American professional football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet tall and competing at 230 pounds, Ross plays a physical, downhill linebacker style that has carried him from a productive college career at Michigan through stints with the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks. A four-star high school recruit, he developed into a tackling machine with the Michigan Wolverines before beginning his professional journey as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Josh Ross grew up in Southfield, Michigan, a suburb within the Detroit metropolitan area, and attended St. Mary’s Preparatory, one of the state’s most respected football programs. As a senior, he produced one of the most productive defensive seasons in the school’s recent history, recording 142 tackles with 20 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. Those numbers reflected both his instincts and his finishing ability at the line of scrimmage.
Rated a four-star recruit, Ross drew attention from several premier college programs before committing to play college football at Michigan over offers from Ohio State, Michigan State, and Notre Dame. His decision to remain in his home state aligned him with a program renowned for its linebacker tradition and its expectation of defensive toughness.
Path to American Football
Ross arrived at Michigan as part of a recruiting class built around defensive playmakers, and he developed steadily across five seasons in Ann Arbor. He played in all 13 of Michigan’s games, primarily on special teams, during his freshman year, showing enough discipline and physicality to earn a larger role going forward. As a sophomore, he appeared in every game and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference after finishing the season with 61 tackles and one sack.
The 2019 junior season brought early starts followed by an ankle injury that cut his year short, while the 2020 COVID-19-shortened campaign saw him start all six games and post 53 tackles, earning another honorable mention all-conference nod. Ross elected to return for a fifth season as a graduate student, and in his final year he produced 106 tackles with nine tackles for loss, which earned him third-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2021.
Josh Ross Career
Early Career (2022)
Josh Ross signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 7, 2022, beginning his professional career with one of the NFL’s most consistent defensive organizations. He made the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster out of training camp, an achievement that signaled the team viewed him as more than a camp body. His rookie season was interrupted when he suffered a foot injury in Week 2 and was placed on injured reserve on September 19, 2022, before being designated to return from injured reserve on December 20, 2022.
Baltimore Ravens Tenure (2022–2024)
On August 29, 2023, Ross was waived by the Ravens and re-signed to the practice squad, a common path for young linebackers still refining their role on game-day rosters. He signed a reserve and future contract on January 29, 2024, indicating that Baltimore still believed in his long-term upside. Ross was waived on August 27, 2024, re-signed to the practice squad, promoted to the active roster on September 5, and ultimately waived on October 22, marking the end of his time in Baltimore.
Seattle Seahawks Stint (2024–2025)
Ross was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks on October 23, 2024, quickly landing with another defensive-minded franchise. On March 21, 2025, he was re-signed by the Seahawks to a one-year deal, providing him roster stability heading into training camp. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, ending his Seattle tenure after roughly ten months with the organization.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2025–Present)
On December 10, 2025, Josh Ross signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, joining his third NFL franchise and reuniting him with a defensive scheme that prizes physical linebackers. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for an expanded role during the season’s final stretch. His progression from practice squad contributor to active contributor will be one of the storylines to watch within the Vikings’ linebacker room.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although the term is more common in motorsports, Ross’s on-field identity reflects a similar concept: a downhill, instinctive linebacker who diagnoses quickly and attacks the ball carrier with leverage and physicality. He excels in run support and pursuit angles, leverages his tackling volume, and brings special teams value developed during his Michigan freshman season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ross’s signature moments are his senior high school season, his 106-tackle fifth year at Michigan, and his third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2021. Making the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2022 stands as another defining milestone, followed by his quick transition to a starting opportunity with the Seahawks in 2024 and his addition to the Vikings’ practice squad in 2025.
Josh Ross Career Wins
While individual win totals at the NFL level for linebackers are tracked differently from quarterbacks or skill players, Ross has accumulated notable achievements across the NFL and his development pipeline. His All-Big Ten selections, undrafted free agent signing, and continuous movement between active rosters and practice squads represent the markers of a resilient professional career.
College Highlights
Over five seasons with the Michigan Wolverines, Ross played in every game during his freshman and sophomore years, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors twice, and capped his career with 106 tackles and third-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2021. His consistent tackling production across multiple schemes cemented his reputation as a reliable downhill defender.
Other Performances
Ross’s senior year at St. Mary’s Preparatory remains one of his most decorated stretches, with 142 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. That production fueled his four-star rating and his commitment to Michigan, setting the foundation for everything that followed.
Josh Ross Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Josh Ross grew up in Southfield, Michigan, within a strong football community in the Detroit metropolitan area. He attended St. Mary’s Preparatory, a school known for producing Division I talent, where he developed the tackling and pass-rushing skills that defined his later career.
Personal Life
Public details about Ross’s personal life remain limited. He maintains an active presence on Instagram, where fans can follow his professional and off-field updates.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season has been a transitional year for Josh Ross, beginning with a one-year re-signing with the Seattle Seahawks in March. After being waived as part of Seattle’s final roster cuts on August 26, he waited roughly three and a half months for the next opportunity to arrive. That opportunity came on December 10, 2025, when the Minnesota Vikings signed him to their practice squad.
Ross’s role with the Vikings will likely center on depth at linebacker and continued contributions on special teams, an area where he has produced value since his freshman year at Michigan. His familiarity with multiple defensive systems from his time in Baltimore and Seattle gives Minnesota a flexible defender who can step into different packages. Heading into the final weeks of the regular season, his ability to translate practice squad reps into active game action could shape his path toward a longer-term NFL role.