.jpg) Newsome in 2023 | |||||||||
| Baltimore Ravens | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Executive vice president Player personnel | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1956-03-16)March 16, 1956 (age 69) Muscle Shoals, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 232 lb (105 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Colbert County (Leighton, Alabama) | ||||||||
| College | Alabama (1974–1977) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1978: 1st round, 23rd overall pick | ||||||||
| Position | Tight end, No. 82 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
Playing | |||||||||
Operations | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Ozzie Newsome Jr. (born March 16, 1956) is an American professionalfootball executive and former player who is the executive vice president of player personnel of theBaltimore Ravens of theNational Football League (NFL). Newsome was atight end for the NFL'sCleveland Browns, and was general manager of the Ravens from 1996 to 2018. Newsome has been inducted into both theCollege Football Hall of Fame (1994) and thePro Football Hall of Fame (1999).
Newsome played forAlabama, where he started for all four years of hiscollege career.[1] Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oz", Newsome made theCollege Football All-America Team in 1977 and assisted theCrimson Tide to a 42–6 overall record during his four seasons.[2] In total, Newsome amassed 102 receptions for 2,070 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, while also returning 40 punts for 301 yards.[3] His 20.3 average yards per catch was aSoutheastern Conference record for over 20 years.[4] Newsome was named the Alabama Player of the Decade for the 1970s.[3] He was a two-time All-SEC player (in 1976 and 1977), and named SEC Lineman of the Year in 1977 by the Birmingham Quarterback Club and the Atlanta Touchdown Club. In 1994, Newsome was enshrined in theCollege Football Hall of Fame.[5] CoachPaul "Bear" Bryant called him "the greatest end in Alabama history and that includesDon Hutson. A total team player, fine blocker, outstanding leader, great receiver with concentration, speed, hands."[6]
Newsome was drafted in the first round with the 23rd pick in the1978 NFL draft for theCleveland Browns.[1] He was named the Browns' Offensive Player of the Year his rookie year, the first time in 25 years that a rookie had received that honor. Newsome went to the Pro Bowl in 1981, 1984 and 1985. In 1984, Newsome set a franchise record for receiving yards in a game (191) that stood for 29 years until it was broken in2013 byJosh Gordon (who recorded 237 and 261 yards in back-to-back games).[7] In 1986, Newsome won theEd Block Courage Award for playing with injuries, and in 1990, he won theByron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award for his community service.[3] Though he was never able to play in a Super Bowl, Cleveland made the playoffs seven times during Newsome's career, and made three trips to the AFC championship game.
Newsome finished his career with 662 receptions and 7,980 yards, both Cleveland franchise records, and 47 touchdowns, fifth all-time. When he retired, he was the all-time leader in receptions and yards amongst all NFL tight ends.[8] In 1999, Newsome was inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame.[9]
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Fum | ||
| 1978 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 38 | 589 | 15.5 | 47 | 2 | 13 | 96 | 7.4 | 33 | 2 | 1 |
| 1979 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 55 | 781 | 14.2 | 74 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 51 | 594 | 11.6 | 44 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| 1981 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 69 | 1,002 | 14.5 | 62 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | CLE | 9 | 9 | 49 | 633 | 12.9 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 89 | 970 | 10.9 | 66 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | CLE | 16 | 15 | 89 | 1,001 | 11.2 | 52 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 62 | 711 | 11.5 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 39 | 417 | 10.7 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | CLE | 13 | 13 | 34 | 375 | 11.0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | CLE | 16 | 14 | 35 | 343 | 9.8 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | CLE | 16 | 13 | 29 | 324 | 11.2 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | CLE | 16 | 15 | 23 | 240 | 10.4 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 198 | 191 | 662 | 7,980 | 12.1 | 74 | 47 | 18 | 135 | 7.5 | 33 | 2 | 3 | |
Newsome was a front office executive with theCleveland Browns from 1991 until theirrelocation to Baltimore in 1996; he has remained an executive with theBaltimore Ravens since their inaugural season. On November 22, 2002, Newsome was named the firstgeneral manager of the Ravens. Newsome earned his firstSuper Bowl ring when the Ravens defeated theNew York Giants 34–7 inSuper Bowl XXXV in 2001, and earned a second ring after the Ravens defeated theSan Francisco 49ers inSuper Bowl XLVII by a score of 34–31 in 2013.[10]
Ravens ownerSteve Bisciotti announced on February 2, 2018, that Newsome would step down as GM after the 2018 season to a his current role. Assistant general managerEric DeCosta would become the team's new GM.[11] Although DeCosta is the team's general manager, Newsome is still employed by the Ravens in an active and significant role and he is listed as executive vice president on the Ravens Official Website.[12][13]
In 2003, Newsome received theUnited States Sports Academy's highest honor, the Eagle Award, in recognition of his significant contributions to international sport.[14]
Newsome is a member of the Cleveland Browns' "Ring of Honor", becoming a member of the first class inducted on September 19, 2010.[15]
