Ozzie Newsome was once regarded as the top tight end in college football.
Now the organization that honors the nation's best tight ends is still recognizing Newsome's impact on the national football landscape.
Newsome received the Leadership Award from the John Mackey Awards during a ceremony Saturday at Baltimore's Marriot Waterfront.
"The leadership award was based on his success in building the team in Baltimore, and his leadership ability to transition from an NFL player to a front office executive," said
Jerry Mackey, Sr., the chairman of the award's selection committee.
"It's a difficult task to make that transition from player to front office, and this award was selected based on that."
Newsome was one of three people honored during the ceremony. The University of Washington's Austin Seferian-Jenkins was recognized as the top tight end in college football, and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith won the Outstanding Journalism Award.
The selection committee is compromised of a panel of former players and current media members that cover professional and college football.
