Eric DeCosta was named the Director of Player Personnel for the Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...

 on January 28, 2009

Prior to his recent appointment, DeCosta served as Director of College Scouting for the Ravens for six years, at one time being the youngest College Scouting Director in the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

. DeCosta, who began his career in the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 as a Player Personnel Assistant in 1996, served as Mid-West Area Scout from 1998-2003. For the past sixteen years, DeCosta has worked for General Manager Ozzie Newsome

Ozzie Newsome

Ozzie Newsome Jr. and a 1974 graduate of Colbert County High School in Leighton, 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,...

, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...

.

Education

DeCosta attended high school at Taunton High School (Taunton, Massachusetts

Taunton, Massachusetts

Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...

) and played football at Colby College

Colby College

Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...

, where he served as team captain in 1992 under head coach, Tom Austin. A Dean's List student who graduated with honors, DeCosta earned bachelor of art's degrees in English and Classical Civilizations in 1993. In 1996, DeCosta received a Master's degree in English from Trinity College, Hartford.

Career

Prior to his stint in the NFL, DeCosta worked at Trinity College (1993–1996) as a Graduate Fellow, coaching football in the Athletic Department.

Named as one of the most powerful people in sports under the age of 35, DeCosta has played a strong role in the drafting of Pro Bowl players like Ed Reed

Ed Reed

Edward Earl Reed Jr. is an American football free safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens 24th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...

, Terrell Suggs

Terrell Suggs

Terrell Raymonn Suggs is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens tenth overall in the 2003 NFL Draft after playing his college football at Arizona State....

, Jamal Lewis

Jamal Lewis

Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...

, Bart Scott

Bart Scott

Bartholomew Edward Scott is an American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002...

, Le'Ron McClain

Le'Ron McClain

- Baltimore Ravens :McClain signed with the Ravens on July 27, 2007. He scored his first career touchdown on a Kyle Boller pass against the San Diego Chargers on November 25, 2007...

, Haloti Ngata

Haloti Ngata

-Baltimore Ravens:Ngata decided to leave Oregon a year early because his mother, 'Ofa, was in the early stages of kidney dialysis. She died from her illness on January 13, 2006....

, and Ray Rice

Ray Rice

Raymell Maurice Rice is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers. He is currently ranked as the Baltimore Ravens third all-time rusher in...

 along with significant contributors Tony Weaver, Mark Clayton, Chester Taylor

Chester Taylor

Chester Lamar Taylor also known as "Che Tay" is an American football running back of the National Football League who is currently on the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...

, Ed Hartwell, Dawan Landry

Dawan Landry

Dawan Frank Landry is an American football safety of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Landry was a successful college safety for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 2002 to 2005, and was drafted in the 5th round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Ravens.-College:While at Georgia Tech, he majored in Management...

, Jason Brown, Jared Gaither

Jared Gaither

Jared Gaither is an American football offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2007 Supplemental Draft...

, Ben Grubbs

Ben Grubbs

Leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft, Ben Grubbs participated in a series of private workouts, in addition to the NFL combine. He continued to impress scouts and coaches, alike, with his strength, agility, and football IQ....

, Marshal Yanda

Marshal Yanda

Marshal John Yanda is an American football offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa....

, Sam Koch

Sam Koch

Sam David Koch [pronounced Cook] is an American football punter for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...

, and Lardarius Webb.

In April, 2008, DeCosta and the Ravens traded the 8th pick in the 2008 Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 for the 26th pick in the first round and other picks. The Ravens then traded the 26th overall pick and their third round pick to the Houston Texans

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 for the 18th pick, where the Ravens then selected 2008 Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Year winner, QB Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco

Flacco was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens 18th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, becoming the highest drafted player ever from the University of Delaware...

 from the University of Delaware

University of Delaware

The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...

. In his first season as Ravens starting quarterback, Flacco led the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

.

The next year, in April, 2009, DeCosta and Newsome traded the 26th pick in the 2009 Draft and another pick to the New England Patriots

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...

 for the 23rd pick in the first round. The Ravens then selected 2009 Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up Michael Oher

Michael Oher

Michael Jerome Oher is an American football offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Mississippi for the Ole Miss Rebels...

, OT, from Ole Miss. Oher was featured in Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis (author)

Michael Lewis is an American non-fiction author and financial journalist. His bestselling books include The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, Liar's Poker, The New New Thing, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, Panic and Home Game: An...

' acclaimed book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game is a book by Michael Lewis released in 2006 about American football.-Plot:It features two dominant storylines...

which was also made into a movie

The Blind Side (film)

The Blind Side is a 2009 American semi-biographical drama film. It is written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. The storyline features Michael Oher, an offensive lineman who plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL...

 starring Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Annette Bullock is an Academy Award winning American actress and producer who rose to fame in the 1990s after roles in successful films such as Demolition Man, Speed, The Net, A Time to Kill, and While You Were Sleeping. She continued with films such as Miss Congeniality, The Lake House,...

.

In January, 2010, after reportedly being a finalist for the Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...

 General Manager position, DeCosta removed his name from consideration prior to interviewing for the post.

One year later in March 2011, in an interview at the annual Owners' Meetings in New Orleans, Louisiana, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti

Steve Bisciotti

Stephen J. Bisciotti is the current majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.-Background:...

referred to DeCosta as General Manager Ozzie Newsome's eventual successor.