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DeBartolo humbled, honored by NFL HOF induction
By Tom Williams
CANTON
No doubt about it; family matters to Eddie DeBartolo Jr.
The only NFL owner to win five Super Bowls cited the importance of his wife, daughters, sister and parents during his nearly 30-minute induction speech at Saturday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.
“I am so humbled and honored to be standing here today,” the 1964 Cardinal Mooney High School graduate said at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. “I could be the only inductee of this great Hall who didn’t make his high school football team.
“To share this stage with these amazing gentlemen behind me today is more than humbling.”
Also inducted in the Class of 2016 were Brett Favre, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Dick Stanfel, Kevin Greene, Ken Stabler and Tony Dungy.
DeBartolo, who owned the 49ers from 1977-2000, changed the culture of football because of his willingness to go above and beyond for his players.
“It’s about time,” Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana said. “We all think he’s the best owner there ever [was.]”
DeBartolo was presented by his daughter Lisa.
“Whether you were a blood relative or a player, my dad brought family to football,” she said.
DeBartolo became the 301st member of the Hall of Fame, joining the Niners’ Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Freddy Dean, Steve Young and Bill Walsh.
“Its no secret what a big part they played in me being here today,” DeBartolo said.
He described “the greatest catch of Dwight Clark’s career,” but it’s not the one you think.
On Oct. 17, 1989, daughters Lisa and Tiffanie were driving to the Bay Area to meet Clark and Montana for Game 3 of the World Series at Candlestick Park. An earthquake destroyed the Bay Bridge.
“We turned on the television in Youngstown to see that the bridge had collapsed,” DeBartolo said of the “longest day of my life.”
“We couldn’t reach them – none of the phones worked. All my dad and my wife [Candy] and I could do was pray.”
An hour later, Clark called saying the girls were safe.
“They had already crossed the bridge.”
DeBartolo said he’s “blessed and thankful to be sharing this day with my wife of 48 years, Candy.”
He also said he was “privileged to be joined by my sister, Denise [York] and her wonderful family.
In 1998, DeBartolo pleaded guilty to not reporting an extortion attempt. Two years later, Denise and John York of Canfield took over the 49ers. Today, their son Jed is the 49ers CEO.
DeBartolo said his father – Youngstown businessman Edward J. DeBartolo – was the inspiration for his family policies with the 49ers.
“My dad didn’t just run his business, he absolutely lived it,” DeBartolo said. “Every person who worked for us in Youngstown and the 15,000-or-so we had out in the field, were treated like a part of the family.
“I tried to carry that on when I went to San Francisco in 1977. “
DeBartolo credited the front office contributions of Carmen Policy (Ursuline High School) and John McVay.
“We had the best team on and off the field. [Policy] has always joked that he was my brother from another mother,” DeBartolo said. “[He] was one of the premier executives of the NFL.”
DeBartolo shared humorous stories about his Hall of Fame players. Then he turned serious, suggesting the NFL needs to do as much as possible to take care of today’s players.
“The only thing I hated more than losing was losing a player to injury,” DeBartolo said. “Frankly, I think we could use a little bit more of that sense of family in the NFL today.
“I think we could use a little bit more of that sense of duty to one another and that sense of responsibility for one another,” said DeBartolo to rousing applause. “Make no mistake, history has its eyes on all of us right now.”
DeBartolo concluded with thanks.
“Thank you for honoring me today, thank you for honoring my family,” DeBartolo said. “Thank you for letting me be part of the great, fantastic game of football.”