Earlier than present Baltimore Ravens Govt Vice President Ozzie Newsome made historical past by turning into the primary African American to ever maintain the position of Common Supervisor of an NFL franchise, he put collectively a Corridor of Fame profession as a participant.
He spent 13 years taking part in tight finish for the Cleveland Browns from 1978 to 1990 and was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame within the 1999 class alongside fellow legends Lawrence Taylor and Eric Dickerson.
Former long-time league government and basic manger Scott Pioli labored alongside Newsome when he made the transition from a participant to becoming a member of and finally main a entrance workplace with the Browns who would relocate to Baltimore in 1996 and turn out to be the Ravens.
“I used to be so lucky to be with Ozzie when he transitioned from the time as a participant after which 5 years later turning into the top of a corporation,” Pioli stated Monday in an look on Good Morning Soccer. “(I) watched him grow to be a frontrunner. Not the soccer chief on the sphere however the chief within the entrance workplace and choice maker.”
Pioli had an article printed on Monday during which he wrote about how his longtime pal and former colleague deserves to be enshrined into the Corridor of Fame twice due to his legendary post-playing profession as head government.
“As spectacular as his TE tenure was, Newsome’s second NFL act as an important determine within the Baltimore Ravens’ entrance workplace for greater than 20 years deserves equal — if not larger — reward,” Pioli wrote.
Newsome’s impression on not simply the Ravens however the league as a complete after he hung up his cleats far surpasses any accolades he accrued as a participant. He was the architect of two Tremendous Bowl profitable groups and assist construct playoff contending groups for the overwhelming majority of his tenure as basic supervisor from 2002 to 2018 though he didn’t formally obtain the formal title till, Newsome was the vp of participant personnel from 1996 to 2001.
“With that in thoughts, I strongly imagine Ozzie needs to be the primary particular person inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame TWICE, with the second ceremony honoring his trailblazing work in Baltimore’s entrance workplace,” Pioli wrote. “He actually deserves it — there’s no debate available.”
Newsome’s first two draft picks would finally be part of him within the Halls of Canton as first poll inductees—Jonathan Ogden (2013) and Ray Lewis (2018). They had been adopted by Ed Reed in (2019) and another lately retired gamers that may doubtless be enshrined sometime embody Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, and Marshal Yanda.
“Below his watch between 1996 and 2018, the Ravens had the fourth-most playoff wins and the second-highest playoff win share of any staff,” Pioli wrote. “He acquired 38 Professional Bowlers and 17 All-Execs, together with six Corridor of Famers, three of whom he drafted.”
Earlier than he handed over the reigns of the staff’s entrance workplace and mantle of basic supervisor to Eric DeCosta— his protégée and long-time pal, Newsome had one final draft for the ages in 2018. Of the 12-man crop, 9 have began 25 or extra profession video games and 4 of the highest three have turn out to be multi-time Professional Bowlers.
Essentially the most notable considerably parting present—though he’s nonetheless working inside the group in a distinct position—was choice of franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson. He would turn out to be simply the second ever unanimous league MVP in his first full season as a starter and held the title of highest-paid participant in league historical past till final week when the Los Angeles Chargers topped his cope with the one they gave to Justin Herbert who is much much less achieved.
Pioli acknowledged that there are inductees who’ve been enshrined primarily based on the gathering of contributions that they made to the sport such because the late George Halas who was a participant, coach, supervisor and proprietor that was part of the Corridor of Fame’s inaugural class in 1963.
Nevertheless, he’d prefer to see Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame ought to comply with the instance of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame who has 5 people inducted as soon as as a participant and a second time as a coach— Invoice Russell, Lenny Wilkens, John Picket, Invoice Sharman and Tommy Heinsohn.
“Ozzie deserves the identical form of therapy as these legends,” Pioli wrote. “Newsome’s accomplishments as a Ravens government are monumental.”
