Eddie DeBartolo Jr., the former owner of the San Francisco 49ers — and a man beloved by so many of his former players and employees — has been selected as a finalist for the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in the “Contributor” category. DeBartolo, a 23 year owner of the 49ers before he was forced to sell to his sister, is in his 4th go-around as a finalist for the Hall of Fame, having been a finalist in 2012, 2013, and 2014 as well.
DeBartolo is known for establishing the 49ers dynasty of the 1980s and 1990s through a series of good personnel moves — in particular the hiring of Paul Brown‘s protege, Bill Walsh.