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Revision as of 03:52, 21 January 2010 by Volunteer Marek (talk | contribs) (how hard is it to find sources for this guy? deserves better ... even if he did play for Bama)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) American football player| No. 82 | |
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| Position: | Tight end |
| Career information | |
| College: | Alabama |
| NFL draft: | 1978 / round: 1 / pick: 23 |
| Career history | |
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As player As executive
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| Career highlights and awards | |
Stats at Pro Football Reference  | |
| Pro Football Hall of Fame | |
| College Football Hall of Fame | |
Ozzie Newsome Jr. (born March 16, 1956 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama) is a former American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns, an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the current General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens.
College career
Before his NFL career, Newsome played for the University of Alabama, where he started for all 4 years of his college career. Newsome made the College Football All-America Team in 1977 and assisted the Crimson Tide to a 42–6 overall record during his four seasons. In total, Newsome amassed 102 receptions for 2,070 receiving yards. His 20.3 average yards per catch was a Southeast Conference record. Newsome was named the Player of the Decade for the 1970’s. In 1994, Newsome was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oz", Newsome was the 23rd pick in the 1978 NFL Draft for the Cleveland Browns. 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. Ozzie earned All-Pro honors the following year, 1979, and again in 1984. Newsome went to the Pro Bowl in 1981, 1984 and 1985. In 1986, Newsome won the Ed Block Courage Award for playing with injuries, while in 1990 Newsome won the "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award for his community service.
Newsome played in 198 consecutive games as a Brown. Newsome also caught at least one pass in 150 consecutive games, which was the second longest streak in the NFL when he retired.
He finished his career with 662 receptions and 7,980 yards, both Cleveland franchise records, and 47 touchdowns.
In 1999 Newsome was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Football executive
On November 22, 2002, Newsome was named general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, making him the first African-American to occupy that position in the NFL. His administrative experience started with his former organization when he was the Ravens' vice president of player personnel. Newsome is very well-respected and is considered one of the best general managers of the NFL. His philosophy is "Right player, right price."
Competition committee
Newsome is a member of the NFL competition committee.
Return to Alabama?
Newsome is also rumored to eventually be the next Athletic Director at the University of Alabama, after current AD Mal Moore retires. When asked about this Newsome has even said, "People keep talking about me being the AD. If there's the opportunity to come back maybe to be the janitor at the University of Alabama, hey, I'll take that."
Personal
Newsome is a member of the historically black Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
External links
| Preceded bywas the de facto as Vice President of Player Personnel | Baltimore Ravens General Manager 2002–present |
Succeeded byincumbent |
| NFLPA Alan Page Community Award winners | |
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Previously named the Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award, after Byron "Whizzer" White, the award was renamed in the fall of 2018 in honor of Alan Page. |
Template:Senior Bowl All-Time TeamTemplate:SEC 50th
| Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1999 | |
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References
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Baltimore Ravens Website
- College Football Hall of Fame
- Encyclopedia of Alabama
- 1956 births
- Living people
- African American players of American football
- African American sports executives
- American football tight ends
- National Football League general managers
- Alabama Crimson Tide football players
- Cleveland Browns players
- Ed Block Courage Award recipients
- American Conference Pro Bowl players
- Baltimore Ravens executives
- College Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
- University of Alabama alumni
- People from the Florence – Muscle Shoals metropolitan area
- All-American college football players