Ravens GM recalls early days working beside Ozzie Newsome

May 11, 2026 - 03:57

Eric DeCosta, the current general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, recently took a moment to reflect on his unlikely path to the top of the front office. He recalled the early days of his career, nearly three decades ago, when he was just a young scout working in what he described as a cramped and tiny scouting department. The office was so small that he shared a desk with another scout, and his workspace was essentially a corner of a room that barely fit a few chairs.

DeCosta's most vivid memory from that time is working directly alongside Ozzie Newsome, the legendary executive who built the Ravens into a perennial contender. DeCosta said that being in such close quarters with Newsome was a masterclass in football operations. He watched how Newsome evaluated talent, handled trades, and managed the draft. There was no formal training or fancy technology. It was just two men sitting in a tight space, breaking down film and talking about players. DeCosta noted that those early years taught him the value of hard work, patience, and trusting your own eyes over the noise of the media or public opinion. He said that the cramped office was a blessing in disguise because it forced him to focus on the fundamentals. Now, as the man in charge, DeCosta carries those lessons with him every day, trying to honor the foundation that Newsome laid for the franchise.