Ozzie Newsome’s legacy is unlike any the game of football has produced. Flourishing at every point of his football career, Newsome has not just followed a successful path, he has blazed the trail. Known throughout all of sports as a premier leader, Newsome is a Hall of Fame player, the architect of Baltimore’s Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XLVII championship teams and an elite personnel evaluator who became the NFL’s first African American general manager in 2002. Following his storied playing days as a tight end with the Browns, Ozzie joined Cleveland’s front office. His initial non-player position came as an assignment scout in 1991. Two years later, he was promoted to a very comprehensive assignment – assistant to the head coach/offense/ pro personnel. In 1994, Newsome was named the Browns’ director of pro personnel. Although he continued to help on the field, Ozzie provided detailed studies on other NFL players and recommended which players the Browns should try to acquire. When the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1996, Art Modell invited Newsome
and promoted him to vice president of player personnel. From that point, Ozzie’s reputation as a supreme talent assessor grew quickly. In the Ravens’ first-ever draft, Newsome tabbed T Jonathan Ogden and LB Ray Lewis. Combining to produce an amazing 24 Pro Bowl honors, Ogden became the first Ravens’ draft choice elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2013), while Lewis was enshrined in Canton in August of 2018. Starting with Ogden and Lewis, Newsome consistently compiled impressive draft classes for the Ravens. In the team’s 23 all-time drafts (1996-2018), Baltimore selected 24 first-rounders who have earned a total of 61 Pro Bowl honors. And when the Ravens have had a high pick, they haven’t missed. Of the eight players chosen in the Top 10 by Baltimore, five (Ogden, OLB Peter Boulware, CB Chris McAlister, RB Jamal Lewis, the 2003 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and OLB Terrell Suggs, the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year) have earned Pro Bowl accolades. Additionally, Baltimore has picked in the bottom half of the first round with uncanny success: Lewis was twice
named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year; TE Todd Heap (31st) went to two Pro Bowls as a Raven; S Ed Reed (24th) was tabbed an All-Star nine times and also earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004; QB Joe Flacco (18th) was named Super Bowl XLVII MVP, leading the Ravens to their second World Championship in 2012; and LB C.J. Mosley (17th) became the first Ravens rookie to earn Pro Bowl honors following an exceptional 2014 season (and again in 2016-18). Amazingly, in the Ravens’ brief history, Newsome and his staff have drafted 18 players who have earned Pro Bowl honors. When including 2006 Pro Bowl LB Bart Scott, Pro Bowl K Justin Tucker (2013 & 2016) and Pro Bowl LS Morgan Cox (2015 & 2016), who signed as undrafted rookie free agents in 2002, 2012 and 2010, respectively, Baltimore has produced 21 homegrown Pro Bowlers in just 23 seasons.
Next is a snapshot of Newsome's legendary career, plus a sampling of what the football world has said about him, further proving that "The Wizard" will forever remain in a class of his own... 2018 BALTIMORE RAVENS GAMEDAY | 13
"Ozzie is the most impressive man I’ve ever been around in pro football. And to watch him work, to watch him work in the draft, to watch him handle the football team, and to watch him work with John [Harbaugh], I can’t say enough. You can see why [the Ravens] organization is very, very consistent." – GARY KUBIAK, Former Ravens OC & NFL Head Coach
"His stand-up accountability reflects why Newsome is one of the league’s most revered front office figures, a man whose authority within the Ravens’ building has been bolstered by the close relationships he has developed over the years." – JARRETT BELL, USA Today
• Architect of the Ravens’ 2000 Super Bowl XXXV & 2012 Super Bowl XLVII Title Teams
• NFL’s First African American General Manager (promoted in 2002)
"RIGHT PLAYER, RIGHT PRICE." "Ozzie comes to every practice. He knows the pulse of the team. He’s not on the road, or sitting up in his office. He’s right there. He’s a great sounding board on everything we do, including game plans. The respect he shows coaches – and players – by being out there can’t be measured. It means a lot to us." – JOHN HARBAUGH, Ravens Head Coach
• 13-Year NFL Tight End with the Cleveland Browns (1978-90) • Three-Time NFL Pro Bowler (1981, 1984-85) • Four-Time Cleveland Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year (1978, 1981, 1983-84)
• Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1999) "He taught me an awful lot, and he’s been very complimentary about his comments of what he learned from me. But, I think I probably learned more from him than he learned from me. He’s a pretty special person, special football person, too." – BILL BELICHICK, Patriots Head Coach
"Anybody who knows anything about football has respect for him. He's done a great job of not only drafting guys that fit this organization, but also bringing guys in as free agents. The best part about him is that he gets it. He understands what it takes in this league to succeed.” – ANQUAN BOLDIN, Ravens WR (2010-12)
"THE DRAFT IS A PROCESS."
• State of Alabama Hall of Fame (Class of 1995) • National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and NCAA Hall of Fame (Class of 1994) "I don’t know if any city has more of a solid fan base than we do. Those fans were there with us when we were basically nothing. When we became something, people were intimidated in coming here to play at M&T Bank Stadium. This city has issues like most big cities, but I’ve come to understand that even with those issues, there is a common bond here, and the Ravens help bring people together. Regardless if you live in the city or one of the surrounding counties, or if you attend public or private school, they rally around this football team. This is truly a special place, a special city with a passion for football.” – OZZIE NEWSOME, Ravens General Manager 14 | 2018 BALTIMORE RAVENS GAMEDAY
• NFL Executive of the Year (2000)
"This marks more than an end to an era. This is the finale for the most important person in franchise history. The Ravens have had two owners, three head coaches and countless star players. For 23 years of existence, the Ravens have only had one general manager, and Newsome has been a masterful architect, relying on his calm demeanor, keen eye for talent, unwavering patience and desire for inclusiveness.” – JAMISON HENSLEY, ESPN.com 2018 BALTIMORE RAVENS GAMEDAY | 15