The Pittsburgh Steelers signed outside linebacker Julius Welschof to a reserve/future contract in January.
Welschof was on the Steelers' practice squad for the entire 2025 season. He was not elevated tot he 53-man roster for any games.
Welschof, 28, was originally signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. However, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in the team's preseason finale and then waived two days later with an injury settlement.
Qualifying for the NFL's international roster exemption as a native of Miesbach, Germany, Welschof then re-signed with Pittsburgh on Nov. 26 and once again to a reserve/future contract following the 2024 season.
Welschof made the most of his limited preseason action last year, registering four tackles and three sacks. Unfortunately, he was unable to do the same this preseason, recording just three tackles, one for a loss and one quarterback hit.
Welschof began has collegiate career at Michigan, where he spent five seasons from 2018-22. After redshirting in 2018, he recorded 25 tackles (10 solo), one sack and one pass defensed, while also contributing on special teams the following four years.
In 2023, he transferred to Charlotte, where he started four games before suffering an injury that would cut his final collegiate season short.
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Julius Welschof during practice on Aug. 3, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Acquired:The Steelers signed Julius Welschof as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He signed as a priority free agent on April 27, 2024.
Last season: Welschof was on the Steelers' practice squad for the entire 2025 season. He wasn't activated for any games.
Career:In both 2024 and 2025, Welscho was on the Steelers' practice squad as their 17th member and International Exemption. He has not played in an NFL game.
JULIUS WELSCHOF COLLEGE CAREER
Michigan Wolverines outside linebacker Julius Welschof in a game against the Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Athletics
Residing from Germany, Julius Welschof played the majority of his colligate football at the University of Michigan. During his first season on campus, Welschof did not see any game action and spent the year on a redshirt. In 2019, Welschof played in his first career game but did not log any official stats.
Welschof received his first serious playing time in 2020 as he played in six games for the Wolverines. He recorded a half of a sack which was his only credited sack of his collegiate season.
In 2021, Welschof played in 13 games and recorded 11 tackles. As a redshirt senior, Welschof seen time in just four games. He decided to transfer and use his last year of eligibility at Charlotte.
In his six colligate seasons, Welschof played in 28 games and totaled 27 tackles, half of a sack and a half of a tackle for loss.
JULIUS WELSCHOF COLLEGE STATS
| Year |
School |
GP |
Tackles |
Sacks |
TFLs |
FFs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 |
Michigan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2019 |
Michigan |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2020 |
Michigan |
6 |
6 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0 |
| 2021 |
Michigan |
13 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2022 |
Michigan |
4 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2023 |
Charlotte |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
JULIUS WELSCHOF PRE-DRAFT TESTING
In the pre-draft process, Welschof ran a 4.79-second 40-yard dash and posted a 4.4-second short shuttle, a 7.01-second three-cone drill, a 32.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot-2 broad jump for an 8.94 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.
SALARY CAP AND CONTRACT
Julius Welschof signed a one-year, $885,000 reserve/future contract with the Steelers.
ODDS AND ENDS
Julius Welschof never even heard of American football until he was 16 years old. Growing up in Miesbach, Bavaria his primary sports focus was skiing and soccer.
MORE STEELERS ALL 90
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : German Edge Rusher Julius Welschof Looks to Make Impact with Steelers
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