After standout careers with the University of Minnesota Duluth football program, Sam Pitz and Aiden Williams are headed to the National Football League.


On Saturday, Pitz signed a undrafted free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens, while Williams signed a undrafted free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The pair join former All-American Brent Laing, who signed with the New York Jets in 2023 (and was most recently was with the San Diego Chargers), as the third Bulldog to sign a undrafted free agent contract in three seasons, and fifth UMD player to get either an undrafted free agent contract or rookie camp invite over the same three years.


Pitz, a tight end from Appleton, Wis., was a 2024 American Football Coaches Association Division II First Team All-American, as well as a 2024 Don Hansen NCAA DII Honorable Mention All-Americans. Pitz became a four-time NSIC First Team All-Conference selection last fall after scoring two TDs and posting 360 receiving yards in 11 games. Pitz averaged 10.9 yards a catch and 32.7 yards per game in 2024. Pitz was also a two-time CSC Academic All-American First Team member after earning the honor in both 2024 and 2023. With 16 touchdowns over his 44-game UMD career, Pitz had a total of 940 yards, and averaged an impressive 13.2 yards a catch.


Williams, a offensive lineman who hails from Anchorage, Alaska, was a 2024 AFCA First Team All-American, a 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl Invitee and 2024 Don Hansen NCAA DII Honorable Mention All-American. Named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Second Team, Williams was also a D2CCA Football All-Super Region 4 Second Team Offense and a 2024 NSIC First Team All-Conference honoree, as well as a Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year nominee. WIlliams led a line that helped average 213.7 rushing yards a game – the second most in the NSIC and the league's best total offense, and was named a NSIC Second Team All-Conference selection in both 2023 and 2022.


Both Pitz and Williams were team captains for the Bulldogs in 2024.