Steve Bisciotti
Encyclopedia
Stephen J. Bisciotti is the current majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens
of the National Football League
.
suburb. His parents, Bernard and Patricia Bisciotti, moved to Severna Park, Maryland
, in March 1961. His father died of leukemia
when Steve was eight.
Growing up, Bisciotti loved sports. His father took the children to Baltimore colts
and Colts
games. In his senior year at Severna Park High School
, he played on the football team, though he has said he "wasn't much of a high school athlete."
In 1982, Bisciotti graduated from Salisbury State University in Maryland with a degree in liberal arts. A year later, at 23, he and his cousin Jim Davis started Aerotek, a staffing company in the aerospace
and technology sectors. Running the company out of a basement office with secondhand equipment, Bisciotti and Davis produced $1.5 million in sales in the first year. Aerotek grew into the Allegis Group
, which is now the largest privately held staffing firm in the United States and 6th in the world. Bisciotti's involvement in the sports business has brought more attention to his once low profile company.
owners approved the sale of 49% of the Ravens to Bisciotti. In the deal, Bisciotti had an option to purchase the remaining 51% for $325 million in 2004 from Art Modell
. On April 9, 2004 the NFL approved Steve Bisciotti's purchase of the majority stake in the club.
One of the first projects Bisciotti directed as owner of the Ravens was to build the team's state-of-the-art training and practice facility, dubbed "The Castle," which opened in October 2004.
His stewardship of the Ravens has been calm and professional, often serving as a sharp counterpoint (if not a deliberate one) to the chaos involving the Washington Redskins under the ownership of Daniel Snyder
, and trusting in the universally respected management of GM Ozzie Newsome
. However, Bisciotti showed he was willing to take strong actions when he fired Brian Billick
after the 2007 season, although Billick's eight years as the Ravens' head coach included the team's win in Super Bowl XXXV
. He then surprised many observers by selecting John Harbaugh as his new coach, despite Harbaugh's peak of previous experience being a single year as a defensive backs coach after several successful years as the lauded special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles; with three playoff trips in three seasons, Bisciotti and Newsome are often mentioned as one of the NFL's best owner-top executive combinations.
In 2005 Bisciotti ranked 378 among the Forbes
400, a list of the richest Americans.
Bisciotti is currently the third youngest owner in the NFL (after 45-year-old Snyder and 49-year-old Randy Lerner
).
and Mother Seton Academy. He and his wife Renée (Foote) have two sons, Jason and Jack. The family lives on the Severn River
in Maryland.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Background
Steve Bisciotti came from a working-class family in a BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
suburb. His parents, Bernard and Patricia Bisciotti, moved to Severna Park, Maryland
Severna Park, Maryland
Severna Park is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 28,507 at the 2000 census.-History:Robinson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.-Geography:...
, in March 1961. His father died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
when Steve was eight.
Growing up, Bisciotti loved sports. His father took the children to Baltimore colts
Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts may refer to the following football teams:* Baltimore Colts , an All-America Football Conference franchise and National Football League franchise that disbanded after the 1950 season...
and Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
games. In his senior year at Severna Park High School
Severna Park High School
Severna Park High School is a public high school located in Severna Park, Maryland. It is a part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system. Its current feeder school is Severna Park Middle School. SPHS opened its doors to students in 1959 and its current principal is Mr...
, he played on the football team, though he has said he "wasn't much of a high school athlete."
In 1982, Bisciotti graduated from Salisbury State University in Maryland with a degree in liberal arts. A year later, at 23, he and his cousin Jim Davis started Aerotek, a staffing company in the aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
and technology sectors. Running the company out of a basement office with secondhand equipment, Bisciotti and Davis produced $1.5 million in sales in the first year. Aerotek grew into the Allegis Group
Allegis Group
Allegis Group, headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, United States, is one of the largest privately held staffing companies in the world, with $4.88 billion in revenues in 2009. Founded in 1983 by Steve Bisciotti and Jim Davis, the company, then known as Aerotek, originally focused on providing...
, which is now the largest privately held staffing firm in the United States and 6th in the world. Bisciotti's involvement in the sports business has brought more attention to his once low profile company.
Sports ownership
On March 27, 2000, NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
owners approved the sale of 49% of the Ravens to Bisciotti. In the deal, Bisciotti had an option to purchase the remaining 51% for $325 million in 2004 from Art Modell
Art Modell
Arthur B. Modell is an American businessman, entrepreneur and former National Football League team owner. He owned the Cleveland Browns franchise from 1961–1995 and the Baltimore Ravens franchise from 1996–2004. Modell is the grandson of the late Morris Modell who founded the northeast...
. On April 9, 2004 the NFL approved Steve Bisciotti's purchase of the majority stake in the club.
One of the first projects Bisciotti directed as owner of the Ravens was to build the team's state-of-the-art training and practice facility, dubbed "The Castle," which opened in October 2004.
His stewardship of the Ravens has been calm and professional, often serving as a sharp counterpoint (if not a deliberate one) to the chaos involving the Washington Redskins under the ownership of Daniel Snyder
Daniel Snyder
Daniel M. Snyder is the current owner of the Washington Redskins American football team, owner of the Dick Clark Productions television production company, and primary investor in Red Zebra Broadcasting, which is home to the Redskins Radio Network. Snyder has a net worth of $1.05 billion...
, and trusting in the universally respected management of GM Ozzie Newsome
Ozzie Newsome
Ozzie Newsome Jr. and a 1974 graduate of Colbert County High School in Leighton, Alabama, is a former American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns, an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the current General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens.-College career:Before his NFL career,...
. However, Bisciotti showed he was willing to take strong actions when he fired Brian Billick
Brian Billick
Brian Harold Billick is a National Football League game analyst for Fox, and is also an analyst for the network's Bowl Championship Series coverage. He was previously an NFL coach, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007...
after the 2007 season, although Billick's eight years as the Ravens' head coach included the team's win in Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
. He then surprised many observers by selecting John Harbaugh as his new coach, despite Harbaugh's peak of previous experience being a single year as a defensive backs coach after several successful years as the lauded special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles; with three playoff trips in three seasons, Bisciotti and Newsome are often mentioned as one of the NFL's best owner-top executive combinations.
In 2005 Bisciotti ranked 378 among the Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
400, a list of the richest Americans.
Bisciotti is currently the third youngest owner in the NFL (after 45-year-old Snyder and 49-year-old Randy Lerner
Randy Lerner
Randolph D. Lerner is an American entrepreneur and sports team owner.Lerner has been the owner of the American football team, the Cleveland Browns, of the National Football League since October 2002, and the Chairman of Aston Villa Football Club of the English Premier League since 2006...
).
Personal life
Bisciotti is a board member for both Associated Catholic CharitiesAssociated Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore cares for more than 160,000 people and serves over a quarter million meals every year to those who are hungry. Eighty programs offer a diverse array of services in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Carroll, Anne Arundel, Frederick,...
and Mother Seton Academy. He and his wife Renée (Foote) have two sons, Jason and Jack. The family lives on the Severn River
Severn River (Maryland)
The Severn River runs through Anne Arundel County in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located south of the Magothy River, and north of the South River.-Geography:...
in Maryland.