Kristian Welch on playing for his hometown Green Bay Packers: 'Dream come true'

Ahead of an uncertain free agency, Green Bay Packers linebacker Kristian Welch opened up about what his single season back home in Wisconsin has meant to him and his family. Cut by the Baltimore Ravens at the end of training camp, Welch was given the opportunity to come home to Green Bay and he made the most of it.

“This year was a dream come true, to be honest,” Welch said, via GreenBayPackers.com. “I grew up here. I obviously was a fan. It was just exciting. I had a lot of fun.”

Welch made the Green Bay Packers 53-man roster a month after signing on to the practice squad. He quickly became a staple of the special teams and even earned a captaincy for a home game. The former Iowa linebacker finished third on the team in coverage tackles (six) and fourth in special-teams snaps (210) in 14 regular-season contests.

“I was excited for that opportunity,” Welch said. “Playing from Week 4 on, I’m pretty proud of that, just to play that many games after getting in at the beginning of the year, not having any offseason and learning on the fly. Opening the playbook and learning all this defense and special teams – it was a bit chaotic there for a while, but I got used to the deal.”

Whether Green Bay signs him to a new deal or not, Welch built a resume with the Packers that should land him a contract somewhere for 2024. Staying in Wisconsin, however, would be ideal.

Welch shines for hometown team

Lambeau Field is only 75 minutes away from Welch’s hometown. His parents still live there and their presence gives him and his family a very convenient option for babysitting their first child, Jace.

“Having my parents’ grandchild so close, whereas before we were 1,000 miles away, they were in heaven,” Welch said. “I live in eastern Iowa in the offseason and my wife’s family isn’t that far, either. So, they were able to come up and be able to hang out, too. Being in the Midwest, it feels like home.”

Plenty of other people know Welch in the area as well. He was an all-conference player at two positions (linebacker and running back) in high school at Scandinavia. He then went nearby to Iowa, where he became an All-Big Ten honorable mention player as a senior.

“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.”

Next season will be Welch’s fifth in the NFL after entering the league as an undrafted free agent for the Ravens.