Eric DeCosta has signed a contract to begin his new role as Ravens General Manager on Friday, Jan. 11, the team announced Thursday.
As was planned and announced a year ago by Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti, DeCosta will replace Ozzie Newsome, who has been the only general manager the Ravens have ever known. Newsome will remain in the front office in a significant role.
The 47-year-old DeCosta has been with the Ravens since the team's first year in 1996, beginning his tenure as a scouting intern. He has declined general manager interviews with other NFL teams in each of the last seven years to stay in Baltimore. During his Ravens tenure, DeCosta has served as Assistant General Manager (2012-18), Director of Player Personnel (2009-11), Director of College Scouting (2003-08) and Area Scout (1997-2002).
DeCosta has worked side-by-side with Newsome, and was largely in charge of setting the Ravens' draft board as his assistant general manager. He has been an instrumental part of Baltimore's draft success, and has also been highly involved in free agency as well.
DeCosta earned degrees with honors in English and the Classics at Colby College, where he was a three-year letterman and team captain in football, and he currently serves as a Colby Overseer. He was also a team captain of his high school football team at Taunton [Mass.] High School.
Deeply involved with the Baltimore community, DeCosta has served on leadership boards of the Maryland SPCA, The Irvine Nature Center, and The Family Tree. DeCosta and his wife, Lacie, a former marketing executive with the Ravens, are parents of Jane Elizabeth, Michael Litz and Jackson James, all of whom attend schools in Baltimore.
