On This Day In Alabama History: Ozzie Newsome Was Born

Alabama News Center | March 16, 2018 @ 5:00 am

By Graydon Rust
Alabama 200

March 16, 1956

Professional football player Ozzie Newsome Jr. was born in Muscle Shoals. Nicknamed “”The Wizard of Oz,” Newsome played tight end at the University of Alabama from 1974 to 1977 and caught a total of 102 passes for 2,070 yards and 16 touchdowns as the school compiled a 42-6 record and won three SEC championships. He was drafted 23rd overall in the 1978 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns and became one of the leading NFL tight ends and the fourth all-time leading receiver when he retired in 1990. Newsome later became the first African-American general manager of an NFL franchise. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

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