The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s new contributor category saw both longtime personnel men Ron Wolf and Bill Polian rubber-stamped for induction last year.
The next candidate in that pipeline might face a tougher road.
The Hall announced that the subcommittee of Hall of Fame selectors has forwarded former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. as this year’s contributor candidate. To be inducted, he’d have to receive 80 percent of the votes in a simple yes-no ballot.
DeBartolo Jr. was a finalist in 2012, 2013 and 2014, but was eliminated from consideration each year during the vote from 15 to 10.