Ozzie Newsome Jr. (born March 16, 1956 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama) 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.
[edit] 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 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 [1]. In 1994, Newsome was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
[edit] 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.
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.
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."
[edit] Awards
- 2002 received the United States Sports Academy's highest honor, the Eagle Award, in recognition of his significant contributions to international sport.[1]
[edit] Personal
Newsome is a member of the historically black Omega Psi Phi 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.
[edit] References
- Pro Football Hall of Fame [2]
- Baltimore Ravens Website [3]
- College Football Hall of Fame [4]
- Encyclopedia of Alabama [5]
[edit] External links
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Offense: QB Joe Namath, Alabama, 1965 | RB Walter Payton, Jackson State, 1975 | RB Bo Jackson, Auburn, 1986 | RB Franco Harris, Penn State, 1972 | WR Lynn Swann, Southern Cal, 1974 | WR Steve Largent, Tulsa, 1976 | FL Art Monk Syracuse, 1980| TE Ozzie Newsome, Alabama, 1978
OL Gene Upshaw, Texas A&I, 1967 | OL Jerry Kramer, Idaho, 1958] | OL Randall McDaniel, Arizona State, 1988 | G Tom Banks, Auburn, 1970 | C Mike Webster, Wisconsin, 1973
Defense: DE Jack Youngblood, Florida, 1971 | DE Ed Jones, Tennessee State, 1974 | DT Bubba Smith, Michigan State, 1967 | DT Joe Greene, North Texas State, 1969 | OLB Ted Hendricks, Miami, 1969 | OLB Derrick Thomas, Alabama, 1989 | MLB Ray Nitschke, Illinois, 1958 | MLB Lee Roy Jordan, Alabama, 1963
CB Roger Wehrli, Missouri, 1969 | CB Dale Carter, Tennessee, 1992 | FS Paul Krause, Iowa, 1964 | SS Albert Lewis, Grambling, 1983
Special Teams P Ray Guy, So. Miss 1972 | PK Morten Andersen, Michigan State, 1982 | KR Greg Pruitt, Oklahoma 1974
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Offense: QB Archie Manning, Ole Miss | RB Charley Trippi Georgia | RB Billy Cannon, LSU | RB Herschel Walker, Georgia | WR Don Hutson, Alabama| WR Terry Beasley, Auburn | TE Ozzie Newsome, Alabama
OL John Hannah, Alabama | OL Bruiser Kinard, Ole Miss | OL Bob Suffridge, Tennessee | G Billy Neighbors, Alabama | C Dwight Stephenson, Alabama
Defense: DE Jack Youngblood, Florida | DE Doug Atkins, Tennessee | DT Bill Stanfill, Georgia | DT Lou Michaels, Kentucky | DL Gaynell Tinsley, LSU | LB Jack Reynolds, Tennessee | LB D. D. Lewis, Miss. State | MLB Lee Roy Jordan, Alabama | DB Tucker Frederickson, Auburn| DB Jake Scott, Georgia | DB Tommy Casanova, LSU | DB Don McNeal, Alabama | DB Jimmy Patton, Ole Miss
Special Teams PK Fuad Reveiz, Tennessee | P Craig Colquitt, Tennessee
Coach Bear Bryant, Alabama, Kentucky
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Newsome, Ozzie |
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March 16, 1956 |
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