Ozzie Newsome will step down as GM after the 2018 season

Ozzie Newsome, one of the NFL’s longest-tenured general managers, will step down after the conclusion of the 2018 season.

Baltimore Ravens’ owner Steve Bisciotti wasted no time breaking news at the beginning of his scheduled press conference. Bisciotti told reporters that Ozzie Newsome will step down as general manager after the conclusion of the 2018 season.

Assistant general manager Eric DeCosta will be Newsome’s successor.

Newsome has been the team’s general manager since their arrival to Baltimore in 1996. He’s the third longest-tenured general manager behind Jerry Jones in Dallas and Mike Brown in Cincinnati. Both Jones and Brown also own their respective teams. Newsome has had an unprecedented run like no other but it will finally come to end.

It’s no surprise DeCosta will eventually take over the managerial role. He’s been the general manager in waiting since he came under Newsome’s wing in 2012. Bisciotti noted that the eventual move was part of Newsome’s contract extension in 2014.

DeCosta was heavily linked to general manager jobs in the past but turned down every offer and now we know why. He’s had his sights set on the role and that finally comes in to fruition after the 2018 season.

Newsome won’t completely step away from the Ravens, however. He will still remain with the team as a consultant/evaluator. Bisciotti even joked that Newsome would be the “highest paid scout,” which sounds about right given his track record.

All things must eventually come to an end and this is unchartered territory for the Ravens as a franchise. But at the same time, there’s still continuity involved. DeCosta has been with the organization for over 20 years and is just as much involved in player-personnel as Ozzie. While this is news to the public, it’s not a rash decision. The Ravens have had this planned out for quite some time now.

It seems the only way Ozzie was going to step down would be for DeCosta, which speaks volumes of the confidence the Ravens have in their eventual general manager.

The Ravens enter one of the most crucial years in franchise history. After three straight years of missing the playoffs, the pressure seems to be felt all throughout the organization, even up to the owner.

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Just like Ray Lewis went out on top, Ozzie will look to do the same in his final curtain call as general manager.