Believe it or not, it’s been 30 years since Ozzie Newsome hung up his cleats. The greatest tight end in Cleveland Browns history last played in the 1990 season.
Newsome spent his entire 13-year career in Cleveland, quickly establishing himself as a fan favorite and standout as the team’s first-round pick out of Alabama in the 1978 NFL Draft. He was the team’s offensive player of the year as a rookie even though he transitioned from wide receiver to tight end.
He was one of the pioneers of the flexed-out TE spot. Newsome was a mismatch, too fast and nimble for linebackers and too big and smart as a receiver for the strong safeties of the era. It led to sustained greatness.
Always classy and well-respected by opponents, Newsome racked up 89 catches in both the 1983 and 1984 seasons, unprecedented numbers for a tight end. He finished 2nd in the NFL in receptions in both years. Newsome never missed a game, playing 198 total. He caught at least one pass in 195 of them, including 150 in a row at one point, the second-longest streak in history at that time.
When Newsome retired, his 662 career receptions ranked 4th in NFL history and the most of any tight end. Even 30 years after his retirement, Newsome’s 7.980 receiving yards is nearly 1,500 more than the next Browns receiver (Dante Lavelli) on the list. His reception total leads Lavelli (also second here) by an incredible 276 catches.
Newsome, of course, continued with the franchise in the front office upon his retirement. He made the move to Baltimore and took over as the GM, building the Ravens into one of the most consistently successful franchises over the last 20 years. It’s a bitter pill for Browns fans, no doubt, but you seldom heard a bad word about Ozzie Newsome in Cleveland.
Here are some of the top photos of Newsome over the years, including his Hall of Fame induction in 1999:
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