2024 SEASON: Played in six games with one start for the Denver Broncos (Weeks 1-6) and in nine games with one start as well as two postseason contests for the Baltimore Ravens… Totaled eight tackles (five solo) on defense and five tackles and a fumble recovery on special teams during the regular season and a tackle on special teams in the playoffs…Spent the offseason and training camp with the Packers before being released by the team on Aug. 27…At Seattle (Sept. 8): Played 17 snaps on defense in his Broncos debut and tied his career high with two tackles (both assists) while playing 18 snaps on special teams and posting a tackle…Vs. Pittsburgh (Sept. 15): Made his first career start, appearing on 10 snaps on defense and tying his career high with two tackles (career-high two solo)…At N.Y. Jets (Sept. 29): Tied his career high with two tackles (one solo) on three defensive snaps. With the Jets at the Denver 1, stopped RB Breece Hall for no gain on back-to-back plays late in the first quarter…Vs. Cincinnati (Nov. 7): Played 23 snaps and tied his career high with two tackles on special teams.
2023: Appeared in 12 games on special teams, recording six tackles (No. 3 on the team)…Played in both postseason contests on special teams, recording a tackle…Was signed to the active roster from the practice squad on Sept. 28…Vs. Detroit (Sept. 28): Played 20 snaps on special teams in his Green Bay debut…At Pittsburgh (Nov. 12): Played 18 special teams snaps, recording two tackles (tied career high). Made tackles on back-to-back kickoff returns in the third quarter, taking down RB Anthony McFarland Jr. with the help of LB Eric Wilson on the first and tackling McFarland again with the help of S Zayne Anderson on the second…At Detroit (Nov. 23): Appeared on 15 special teams snaps, recording a tackle on kickoff return coverage…At Minnesota (Dec. 31): Played 18 snaps on special teams, recording one tackle on kickoff coverage…Vs. Chicago (Jan. 7): Appeared on nine special teams snaps, recording one tackle on kickoff coverage…At Dallas (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 14): Played 14 snaps on special teams, making one tackle on kickoff coverage.
2022: Appeared primarily on special teams in all 17 regular-season games, recording two tackles and helping Baltimore's special teams rank No. 3 in Football Outsiders' DVOA rating…Also registered a tackle (solo) on defense…Played in the lone postseason contest and recorded a tackle on special teams…Vs. Cincinnati (Oct. 9): Played on 18 special teams snaps and posted a tackle on kickoff coverage…Vs. Cleveland (Oct. 23): Played on three defensive snaps and registered a tackle (solo). Also saw action on 22 special teams plays and recorded a tackle on punt coverage…At Cincinnati (AFC Wild Card, Jan. 15): Played on 18 special teams snaps and recorded a tackle on a kickoff in the second quarter.
2021: Saw action in 16 games primarily on special teams, where he tied for No. 2 on the team with nine special teams tackles and helped Baltimore's unit rank No. 1 in Football Outsiders' DVOA rating…Added a career-best four tackles (all assists) on defense…At Chicago (Nov. 21): Played 21 special teams snaps and posted a career-high two special teams tackles…Vs. Cleveland (Nov. 28): Saw action on a season-high 10 defensive snaps and posted a tackle, helping limit the Browns to a season-low 40 rushing yards…At Cleveland (Dec. 12): Played nine defensive snaps and posted a career-best two tackles (both assists). Also saw action on 26 special teams plays and tied his career high with two tackles, limiting WR JoJo Natson to returns of 1 and 6 yards on punts.
2020: Played in eight games as a rookie, primarily on special teams and posted four special teams tackles for a unit that allowed only 5.7 yards per punt return (No. 4 in the NFL) and 21.1 yards per kickoff return (No. 10)…At Philadelphia (Oct. 18): Made his NFL debut and recorded a special teams tackle…At Tennessee (AFC Wild Card, Jan. 10): Made his postseason debut, seeing action on special teams…2020 Draft: Signed by Baltimore as an undrafted free agent on May 6.
COLLEGE: Appeared in 46 games with 16 starts, recording 145 tackles (74 solo), 4½ sacks, 10½ tackles for a loss, two interceptions, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries…Was a two-time (2018-19) Academic All-Big Ten honoree…Graduated with a degree in enterprise leadership…2019: Served as a defensive captain and started at middle linebacker in all 10 games he played in…Named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media…Led the team with 87 tackles (44 solo), adding nine tackles for a loss, three sacks, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…Recorded 11 tackles (six solo), a sack, 1½ tackles for a loss and a pass defensed vs. Minnesota (Nov. 16)…Posted a career-high 12 tackles (10 solo), a sack, 1½ tackles for a loss and a forced fumble vs. Illinois (Nov. 23)…2018: Played in 12 games with six starts, posting 49 tackles (26 solo), 1½ sacks, 1½ tackles for a loss, an INT, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…Recorded a team-high eight tackles (four solo) and a fumble recovery vs. Northern Iowa (Sept. 15), helping a defense that held NIU to just 6 rushing yards…2017: Appeared in 11 games, recording six tackles (two solo), an INT and a pass defensed…2016: Saw action in all 13 games, posting three tackles (two solo) as a redshirt freshman.
PERSONAL: Given name Kristian Keith Welch…Born in Iola, Wis. …Married, wife's name is Maddie...The couple has a son, Jace...Was one of only 52 students in his HS graduating class…High school: Prepped at Iola-Scandinavia (Iola, Wis.) High School, where he played both LB and RB, helping his team reach the state playoffs in three straight years…Rushed 85 times for 1,000 yards (11.8 avg.) and 10 TDs and recorded 75 tackles on defense as a senior, earning all-state and all-region honors…Named first-team all-conference as both an LB and RB in his junior and senior years...Also played on the basketball team, serving as a team captain and earning team MVP honors… Community involvement: Took part in Huddle for Heroes, a military-appreciation event that involved a Q&A session, writing letters to active-duty military members and mingling with veterans through interactive sports games...Participated in the Baltimore Ravens' annual organization-wide volunteer day to build a state-of-the-art playground and provide significant upgrades at Morrell Park Elementary/Middle School and Recreation Center in Baltimore City (2023)…Joined teammates to host a holiday party at St. Vincent's Villa, interacting with and serving food to students (2022)…Joined Jameel McClain's 53 Families Thanksgiving event to serve a warm meal to families in need during the holiday (2022)…Participated in My Cause My Cleats to raise awareness for the Warrior Rising Organization and veteran entrepreneurship (2022)…Participated in Flags With the Flock alongside military families of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (2022)… Joined teammates in celebrating the NFL's Salute to Service initiative by participating in the Ravens' Youth Military Combine for children of service members (2021).
