Ozzie Newsome

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Lore & Background

Newsome's football journey began at Alabama, where he started for all four years under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oz," he helped the Crimson Tide post a 42–6 record over his four seasons, earning All-America honors in 1977 and being named SEC Lineman of the Year that same year by both the Birmingham Quarterback Club and Atlanta Touchdown Club. His collegiate dominance was marked by 102 receptions for 2,070 yards and a Southeastern Conference record average of 20.3 yards per catch. Bryant famously called him "the greatest end in Alabama history." After being drafted 23rd overall by the Cleveland Browns in 1978, Newsome became an immediate impact player, earning Offensive Player of the Year as a rookie—the first time in 25 years a receiver had done so. He set a franchise record with 191 receiving yards in a single game in 1984 and earned three Pro Bowl selections (1981, 1984, 1985). His resilience was recognized with the Ed Block Courage Award in 1986.

In Their Own Story

Transitioning from the field to the front office, Newsome served as a Cleveland Browns executive from 1991 until the team's relocation to Baltimore in 1996. On November 22, 2002, he made history by becoming the first African-American general manager in NFL history for the Ravens. His leadership was instrumental in building two championship teams. The Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34–7 in Super Bowl XXXV to secure his first ring as an executive. Eight years later, they captured a second title with a dramatic 34–31 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. In February 2018, owner Steve Bisciotti announced that Newsome would step down as general manager following the season, handing the role to assistant GM Eric DeCosta. However, Newsome remained with the organization in an active, significant capacity as executive vice president of player personnel.

Reader's Guide

For fans studying Ozzie Newsome's career, focus on his dual legacy as a record-setting tight end and a pioneering executive. As a player, he finished with 662 receptions and 7,980 yards—both Cleveland franchise records—and was the all-time leader in receptions and yards among NFL tight ends upon retirement. His 47 touchdowns rank fifth all-time for his position. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. As an executive, he led the Ravens from their inaugural season through two Super Bowl victories. Despite stepping down as GM after the 2018 season, his influence remains central to the franchise's operations.

Did You Know?

• Newsome holds the Alabama Player of the Decade honor for the 1970s.
• In 1984, Newsome set a Cleveland Browns single-game receiving record with 191 yards, which stood for 29 years until broken in 2013 by Josh Gordon.
• Newsome was the first African-American to serve as general manager in NFL history when named to the role on November 22, 2002.
• He won the Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award in 1990 for his community service.
• Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant called Newsome "the greatest end in Alabama history and that includes Don Hutson."