Julius Welschof Bio
Julius Welschof is a German professional American football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 120 kilograms, he plays the outside linebacker position and is recognized as one of the few German-born players currently on an NFL roster. Welschof came to professional football through an unconventional path, having first encountered the sport as a teenager while visiting the United States. He is also a former skiing champion, an athletic background that has helped shape his physical profile on the gridiron.
Early Life and Background
Julius Welschof was born on March 12, 1997, in Miesbach, a town in the Bavarian region of Germany. He grew up in the alpine surroundings of Miesbach, where he developed a love for outdoor sports and won several youth championships in skiing. His early athletic years were shaped by the mountains of southern Germany, and his success in ski racing reflected a competitive instinct that would later translate to football.
He attended the Fachoberschule in Altötting, a vocational high school in Bavaria, and graduated from there before pursuing opportunities abroad. In 2013, at sixteen years old, Welschof traveled to the United States and stayed with a friend of his grandfather in Jacksonville, Florida. It was during that trip that he first learned about American football. Skeptical at first, he changed his mind after watching a Jacksonville Jaguars practice and decided to pursue the sport upon returning to Germany.
Path to American Football
Back in Germany, Welschof joined the Munich Cowboys, a local club team where he began as a tight end and later added defensive end to his responsibilities. In his first season, he earned Bavarian all-star honors, signaling a rapid rise in a country where American football was still a developing sport. He spent four years with the Munich Cowboys from 2013 to 2016, building the foundation for a more ambitious move across the Atlantic.
Determined to play at a higher level, Welschof sought an athletic scholarship to a United States college program. To finance his travel to American camps, he worked as a manufacturer at a Krones factory and took on a second job renovating a house. He eventually connected with Brandon Collier, a former Canadian Football League player who ran Premier Players International, a service designed to help European athletes reach the college ranks. After demonstrating his 4.5-second 40-yard dash time and his ability to perform in freezing conditions on a snow-covered field, Welschof drew scholarship offers and was ranked as the 12th-best defensive end recruit and a four-star prospect by 247Sports. He originally committed to Georgia Tech before flipping to the Michigan Wolverines.
Julius Welschof Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Welschof redshirted as a true freshman at Michigan in 2018 and appeared in one game during the 2019 season. In 2020, he played in all six games and recorded six tackles along with a half-sack, showing steady development within the Wolverines program. His size and athleticism drew early attention from analysts, who highlighted his potential as a defensive prospect.
Entering the 2021 season, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic included Welschof on his annual Freaks List, which recognized the most athletic college football players in the country. That recognition underlined the work Welschof had put into his body and skills after arriving in the United States with little prior football experience.
Michigan Wolverines Breakthrough (2021–2022)
In 2021, Welschof appeared in all 14 games for the Wolverines, starting one, and tallied 13 tackles along with one pass breakup. The following year, he played in all 14 games, primarily on special teams, and finished with six tackles. Following a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, he was named Michigan Special Teams Player of the Week, a small but meaningful recognition of his growing role. After the 2022 season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal, ending his five-year stint at Michigan with 25 tackles across 35 games played.
Charlotte 49ers Era (2023)
Seeking a larger role in his final college season, Welschof transferred to the Charlotte 49ers in 2023, reuniting with coaches Biff Poggi and Ryan Osborn, both of whom he had worked with at Michigan. He quickly won a starting role and opened the season as a regular contributor. Unfortunately, a season-ending shoulder injury in only the fourth game cut his year short, leaving him with four tackles across four starts. He finished his collegiate career with 29 total tackles.
Julius Welschof Career Highlights
Professional Milestones
Welschof recovered from his shoulder injury in time to appear at the Charlotte pro day, where he recorded a broad jump of 10 feet 3 inches in front of National Football League scouts. Although he went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him as an undrafted free agent, using their International Player Pathway Program roster spot to secure his services as an outside linebacker. He was also selected in the second round, 13th overall, by the Calgary Stampeders in the 2024 CFL global draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2024–Present)
Welschof was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024, after sustaining a knee injury during a preseason game, and was waived two days later with an injury settlement. The Steelers re-signed him to their practice squad on November 26, 2024, keeping him within the organization. On January 14, 2025, he signed a reserve and future contract, and after being waived again on August 25, he was re-signed to the practice squad. His journey reflects the perseverance required to break into the NFL as an international player.
Notable Events and Milestones
Welschof’s signing through the International Player Pathway Program made him one of the few German-born athletes on an NFL roster, a notable distinction in a league that has historically drawn most of its talent from North America. His inclusion on The Athletic’s Freaks List and his broad jump performance at Charlotte’s pro day stand out as signature markers of his athletic profile.
Julius Welschof Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Welschof was raised in Miesbach, Bavaria, in a region known for its strong sporting culture, and his grandfather had a friend in Jacksonville, Florida, which opened the door to his first trip to the United States. His early jobs at a Krones factory and in house renovation reflect a family environment that valued hard work and self-reliance.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Welschof remains with the Pittsburgh Steelers organization after re-signing to the practice squad in late August. His path back to the active roster will depend on his recovery and his performance in practice, where the Steelers continue to develop his pass-rushing skills. The team has shown a clear investment in his long-term potential, particularly through the International Player Pathway Program.
Welschof’s 2025 outlook centers on staying healthy and earning a larger role on the Steelers defense or special teams units. His combination of size, athletic testing numbers, and developmental progress at Michigan and Charlotte gives him a legitimate opportunity to push for a spot on the 53-man roster. Should he make the active squad, he would become one of the more notable German success stories in modern NFL history.