Kristian Welch didn't hide his dream of playing for the Green Bay Packers.
The Wisconsin native couldn't have made a stronger case to make the Packers' 53-man roster last summer. He made play after play in the preseason and had seemingly clinched his spot.
To the surprise of everyone who watched Welch play last August, the Packers didn't find room on the 53. They didn't even bring him back to the practice squad.
Two hundred thirteen days later, Welch is back, with the Packers announcing they have re-signed the talented linebacker and special-teams contributor. He deserves another opportunity to prove himself after a terrific summer.
Packers' preseason star Kristian Welch gets another opportunity with the team
Welch needed to have an outstanding preseason to make the roster. And he did. With 14 solo tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery, there's nothing more he could've done. It was a preseason deserving of a 53-man roster spot.
The Packers didn't agree and parted ways with the Wisconsin native.
He played six games for the Denver Broncos and nine for the Baltimore Ravens. By season's end, Welch had become a key special-teams contributor in Baltimore.
The Packers needed linebacker depth. Before re-signing Welch, they had precious few options behind the starting trio of Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, and Isaiah McDuffie. The only other linebacker under contract was second-year Ty'Ron Hopper, who barely played as a rookie.
Welch offers depth, but his path to the Packers' 53-man roster is via special teams.
There's an opening. Green Bay surprisingly let Eric Wilson, who played on a Packers-best 321 special-teams snaps in 2024, sign with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. Rich Bisaccia's unit needs players who can handle significant snaps, creating an opportunity for Welch.
The Packers should never have let him go, but he now gets another opportunity to live his dream in Green Bay.