Bama in the NFL: Scores of Crimson Tide Players Nested With Baltimore Ravens
No one in the history of the Baltimore Ravens organization, minus the owner, may have had a bigger impact on the franchise than a former University of Alabama player.
However, he also never played a down for the team as we know it today.
Of course, we're talking about Ozzie Newsome, who was a hall of fame player for both the Crimson Tide (1974-77) and Cleveland Browns (1978-90). He was in the Browns front office as the Director of Pro Personnel when the franchise moved to Baltimore, but the team history, name and colors are remained in Cleveland. The Ravens were essentially considered a new team.
While Newsome's playing accolades remained with the Browns, who resumed play in 1999, with the move he was promoted to Executive Vice President/Player Personnel. On Nov. 22, 2002, he became the league’s first black general manager.
In addition to a number of strong drafts – his strategy was always “Select the best available player on the board” – Newsome was the architect of the Ravens’ Super Bowl XXXV championship team in 2000, capped by a 34-7 victory over the New York Giants, and voted the NFL’s Executive of the Year. He won a second Super Bowl, XLVII, when the Ravens topped the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31.
Newsome remains active with the Ravens and on the wall of his Baltimore office is a sideline portrait of his mentor, Bryant, wearing his trademark houndstooth hat.
“Coach [Bryant] helped me grow up. He pushed me further than I thought I could go, both on and off the field,” Newsome said.
Bama in the NFL: Baltimore Ravens
The Franchise
American Football Conference
North Division
Team Colors: Black, Purple, Metallic Gold
Founded: 1996 (Browns moved, but Cleveland kept the history, name the colors. Ravens were essentially considered an expansion team)
Stadium: M&T Bank Stadium (70,745)
Playing Surface: Grass
Training Camp: Owings Mills, MD
All-Time Alabama Players
Crimson Tide Players Drafted
Super Bowl Appearances
Super Bowl XLVII, Feb. 3, 2013
Although a power outage in New Orleans delayed the game for roughly an hour, the Ravens held on to win a shootout with the 49ers, 34-31, as head coach John Harbaugh beat brother Jim. Courtney Upshaw was credited with five tackles, and Terrence Cody one. Upshaw also had a forced fumble against San Francisco 49ers running back LaMichael James. The Ravens recovered and scored on the ensuing possession.
Sports Illustrated
Notable Awards/Honors
NFL Team Rundown: The Baltimore Ravens
In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the third story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.
NFC
See Also:
Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team
