Starting today, one of the NFL’s most celebrated weekends kicks off in Canton, Ohio with the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The 2016 class has been lauded as one of the best to come through in a while with iconic coaches, players and owners. In today’s #ThrowbackThursday feature, we will profile each of the esteemed members in this year’s hall of fame class. If you missed who’s apart of the 2016 Hall of Fame Class, the following will don jackets and have their busts revealed this coming weekend….
Eddie DeBartolo Jr. -(Former San Francisco 49ers Owner)
Brett Favre -(Falcons, Packers, Jets and Vikings QB)
Orlando Pace -(Rams and Bears Offensive Lineman)
Tony Dungy -(Buccaneers and Colts head coach)
Kevin Greene -(Rams, Steelers, 49ers and Panthers Defensive Lineman)
Ken Stabler -(Raiders, Oilers and Saints QB)
Dick Stanfel -(Lions and Redskins Guard)
Marvin Harrison -(Colts WR)
Eddie DeBartolo Jr.
-49ers Owner (1977-1999)
-Uncle of 49ers Owner Jed York
-5 Super Bowl Titles
-10 Conference Championship Games
-13 Division Title
-16 Playoff Appearances
In 1977, the San Francisco 49ers were the among the dregs of the NFL when a young and ambitious Eddie DeBartolo Jr. bought the franchise. 22 seasons later, the Niners sat among the great dynasties in all of American sports.
With DeBartolo’s hand at the wheel, the 49ers turned their fortunes around and became the team of the 80’s winning four Super Bowls and then topped off with one in ’94. DeBartolo was one of the more aggressive owners in the league and hated to lose. Another thing that’s made him such an icon in the league is the respect that he showed to his players and how they treated him, for the longest time when you thought of the 49ers, you instantly knew they were a first class organization and all of that credit goes to one man, the man they call “Mr. D.”
Next: Harrison and Greene