Eric DeCosta

Eric DeCosta has been a part of the Ravens' organization since the beginning. A graduate of the Ravens' "20/20 Club," (includes members of the team's personnel staff who started with the Ravens as young assistants and grew into evaluators with more input) DeCosta joined the franchise in an entry-level position in 1996. He moved up the personnel ranks, first as an area scout, then as director of college scouting, and was subsequently promoted to director of player personnel in 2009. DeCosta works with GM Ozzie Newsome to oversee both the college and pro scouting departments. The Taunton, MA, native was honored in 2005 by The Sporting News as one of the top young stars in sports and was selected to both the 2008 Baltimore Business Journal and Baltimore Magazine "40 under 40" group. He also served on the eight-member committee to interview and select Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in 2008. During DeCosta's tenure as scouting director, the Ravens drafted Pro Bowlers LB Terrell Suggs ('03), DT Haloti Ngata ('06), FB Le'Ron McClain ('07), and RB Ray Rice (‘08) and a number of other key contributors, including OLB Jarret Johnson ('03), C Jason Brown ('05), G Ben Grubbs ('07), T Jared Gaither ('07 Supplemental Draft) and QB Joe Flacco ('08).

1996-2011: (with Baltimore)

2011: Baltimore selected CB Jimmy Smith (Colorado) with the 27th-overall pick.

2010: Ravens traded for Pro Bowl WR Anquan Boldin, added quality veteran free agent DE Cory Redding and strengthened team depth through the draft.

2009: Promoted to director of player personnel, following six successful seasons as scouting director...Ravens drafted All-Rookie team honoree T Michael Oher and signed free agent K Billy Cundiff, who earned his first Pro Bowl in 2010.

2008: Led the Ravens during the NFL Draft, selecting QB Joe Flacco (18th overall), who became the Diet Pepsi (fan vote) Rookie of the Year, and RB Ray Rice, who earned his first Pro Bowl in ‘09.

2007: The Ravens drafted All-Rookie Team performer G Ben Grubbs (Auburn) as the team's first-round pick (29th overall)...Also selected T Jared Gaither in the fifth round of the Supplemental Draft.

2006: Drafted All-Rookie Team standouts DT Haloti Ngata (12th overall) and S Dawan Landry (fifth round)...Baltimore also selected top-notch P Sam Koch (sixth round).

2005: Selected All-Rookie Team honoree WR Mark Clayton (22nd overall), who had a record-breaking first year, and C/G Jason Brown (fourth round).

2003: Was named director of college scouting...Drafted 2003 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year LB Terrell Suggs.

1998-2002: Was the Ravens' Midwest area scout...Spent time researching and analyzing draft-day trades and helped evaluate free agent prospects for the pro personnel department...Worked with both the college and pro scouting staffs on the draft and free agency.

1998: Was promoted to area scout after spending time in the fall of 1997 scouting the Midwest.

1995: (with Washington) Earliest NFL experience came with a training camp internship in the Redskins' player personnel department.

1993-95: (with Trinity College) In a graduate fellowship, Eric coached the D-Line and LBs while earning his master's degree in English.

1993: Was an intern coach for Trinity's WRs.

COLLEGE
Earned degrees in English and the classics from Colby, receiving dean's list honors (1990-92)...Was a three-year football letterman and captain at LB...As a senior, he was selected as the Millett Award recipient for outstanding athletic contributions over his four years.

PERSONAL
Attended Taunton (MA) HS, where he played FB and LB, earned three varsity letters, and as a senior, was voted team captain...Is active with a number of charities, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club...Has assisted with countless fundraisers and other charitable events for each organization...Is also on the board of directors for the Maribeth Merrigan Foundation, which raises money for cancer research and cancer patient support...Eric has been asked by the Ravens All Community Team Foundation to review scholarship applications and interview candidates for the Ravens Scholars progam since its inception in 2010…The $5,000 renewable scholarship (up to $20,000 per scholar) is awarded to five local high school students each year...Eric and his wife, Lacie, are actively involved with The Family Tree, a non-profit organization in Maryland dedicated to preventing child abuse and providing families with solutions...An avid runner, Eric, his wife, Lacie, their daughter, Jane Elizabeth (8), and two sons, Michael Litz (4) and newborn Jackson James, reside in Baltimore.