In 1994, shortly after he purchased the New England Patriots, rookie owner Robert Kraft went west to learn from the best.
Kraft arranged a meeting with 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, who was presiding over a dynasty. Then-49ers president Carmen Policy recalls Kraft posed a flurry of cogent questions in his quest to replicate the 49ers’ success.
“This was a man that was coming about as far west as you can come in this country,” Policy said. “And he was saying, ‘I want to see how you guys have done it. I’m going to come into this new world and try to learn everything I can.