Who is Eddie DeBartolo?

Eddie DeBartolo will be inducted into the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame

Eddie DeBartolo was the owner of the San Francisco 49ers from 1977-2000. Five seasons after he bought the team, the 1981 49ers went on to win their first Super Bowl. The 49ers then went on to win a historic four more Super Bowl titles over the next 13 years, becoming the first team to win first championships in the Super Bowl era (1966-present). From their first Super Bowl to the last, no team had won more games than the San Francisco 49ers.

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He had been around for the legends, Steve Young, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott. He was a hands-on owner, and the players loved DeBartolo, nicknaming him “Mr. D.” He talked about how he ran the 49ers as a family more than he did it as a business. He was the type of owner that players loved to play for, and the history of success can be attributed to the environment he created.

Some off-field issues involving money forced him to sell the team in 2000. However, he is still loved by 49ers Nation. DeBartolo was known for running a first-class organization, helping the team to retain and add free agents once the NFL introduced free agency in 1993.