Ozzie Newsome
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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 and 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 1970s http://www.rolltide.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8000&ATCLID=1283752. In 1994, Newsome was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame
.
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.
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
.
He is considered by many to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, tight end of all time.
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."
fraternity.
Newsome is currently a member of the Cleveland Browns' "Ring of Honor", becoming a member of the first class inducted on September 19, 2010.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, an inductee into 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...
, and the current General Manager
General Manager (American football)
In the National Football League, the general manager or GM of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the team during contract discussions with players....
of 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...
.
College career
Before his NFL career, Newsome played for the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, where he started for all 4 years of his college career
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. Newsome made the College Football All-America Team
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
in 1977 and assisted the Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
to a 42 and 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 1970s http://www.rolltide.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8000&ATCLID=1283752. In 1994, Newsome was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
Professional career
Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oz", Newsome was the 23rd pick in the 1978 NFL Draft1978 NFL Draft
The 1978 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 2–3, 1978...
for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. 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
Ed Block Courage Award
The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to selected players in the National Football League , who are voted by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a well-liked humanitarian and trainer for the Baltimore Colts, the...
for playing with injuries, while in 1990 Newsome won the "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award
"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award
The Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award has been awarded by the National Football League Players Association continuously since 1966. The most recent winner, for the 2010 season, is Tony Richardson of the New York Jets...
for his community service.
Newsome played in 198 consecutive games as a Brown.
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
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...
.
He is considered by many to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, tight end of all time.
Football executive
On November 22, 2002, Newsome was named general managerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of 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...
, 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."
Awards
- 2002 received the United States Sports Academy's highest honor, the Eagle Award, in recognition of his significant contributions to international sport.
Personal
Newsome is a member of the historically black Omega Psi PhiOmega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.
Newsome is currently a member of the Cleveland Browns' "Ring of Honor", becoming a member of the first class inducted on September 19, 2010.