Greg Newsome II

Career Transactions

Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (26th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Awards/Honors

• Named to PFWA's 2021 NFL All-Rookie team.

• 2021 Browns Maurice Bassett Award winner for standout training camp performance by a rookie.

Career Transactions

Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (26^th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Awards/Honors

• Named to PFWA's 2021 NFL All-Rookie team.

• 2021 Browns Maurice Bassett Award winner for standout training camp performance by a rookie.

Key Notes

• In 13 games (three starts), logged 27 tackles, one interception and five passes defensed in 2024.

• Tied for team lead with career-high 14 passes defensed in 2023.

• Helped Browns defense lead the NFL in total yards allowed and passing yards allowed in 2023.

• Recorded first career interception and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown at Baltimore on Nov. 12, 2023, while adding half a sack.

• Started 15 games in 2022, compiling 42 tackles, half-sack and six passes defensed.

• Finished second on the team with nine passes defensed as a rookie in 2021.

• Played in 21 games at Northwestern from 2018-20, collecting 71 tackles, 25 pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery. Earned All-America status and first team All-Big Ten honors.

Personal

• Native of Chicago, Ill., and attended IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), after playing his sophomore and junior seasons at Glenbard North High School (Carol Stream, Ill.).

• Also lettered three times in basketball.

• Has three older sisters who all participated in gymnastics growing up. Sister, Zakiya, played college basketball at Division III North Park University.

Beyond Football

• Was announced as the first-ever ambassador for the Cleveland Browns Girls Flag Football programming presented by Gatorade and in association with Bridgestone in February 2025. The programming provides resources and information to players, coaches and parents to expand their knowledge of the game, as well as opportunities through the Browns, USA Football, NFL FLAG and the NFL.

• Wore a jacket during the draft with phrases sewn across the sleeves and on the back: "Women Can Ball Too," "Black Lives Matter," "Say Their Names" and "Stop Asian Hate."

• Attended a gathering and walks in Evanston following the murder of George Floyd.

• Started advocating for women's sports in college after seeing the massive difference in attendance and overall attention women's teams received in college. Attended as many women's basketball games, home and away, as he could, and also frequently attended women's soccer and lacrosse games.

• Supported Play Like a Girl! For My Cause, My Cleats in 2022. Play Like a Girl! leverages the transferable skills middle school girls gain from sport to give them a competitive edge in the classroom and, ultimately, propel them into competitive, male-dominated careers in STEM as young women.

• Supported "Build the Bridge" during My Cause, My Cleats in 2021. The Cleveland Browns partnered with the African-American Football Coaches Association to support "Build the Bridge," designed to empower, develop and unify high school football teams through meaningful interactions between programs of different racial and/or socio-economic demographics in Northeast Ohio.

• Wore cleats supporting "DNA Level C Boxing Club" during My Cleats, My Cleats 2024 to support ending gun violence. Newsome lost a cousin to gun violence and the experience shifted his perspective on life. He also wore the cleats in game for the first time since because of how personal the cause is to him.