By Darin 
The history of the San Francisco 49ers dynasty is inseparable from the man who built it: Edward DeBartolo Jr. Born on November 6, 1946, DeBartolo purchased the franchise in 1977 and ushered in an era of unprecedented success driven by a simple philosophy: treating his players like family. Did you know that during his 23-year tenure as owner, the 49ers posted the best winning percentage in the NFL in both the 1980s and the 1990s? No owner in NFL history achieved such sustained, decade-spanning dominance.
Legendary accomplishments
November 6, 1946 – Youngstown, Ohio – Edward DeBartolo Jr., former owner of the San Francisco 49ers. DeBartolo purchased the franchise in 1977 and owned the club for 23 years. In that time, his 49ers played in 16 playoff games, 10 of which were NFC Championship games, and they won 5 Super Bowl Championships, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame bio on Edward. The franchise posted the best winning percentage in the NFL in both the 1980s and the 1990s. DeBartolo was named the NFL Man of the Year by Football News in 1989, recognizing the nation’s top sports executives. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Edward DeBartolo Jr. in 2016.
Accolades and Accomplishments
- Five Super Bowl Championships: Under his ownership, the San Francisco 49ers won five Super Bowls (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV, and XXIX).
- Playoff Dominance: The 49ers qualified for the playoffs 16 times and played in 10 NFC Championship games.
- Best Winning Percentage: The franchise posted the best winning percentage in the entire NFL during the 1980s and again during the 1990s.
- NFL Man of the Year: DeBartolo was recognized as the NFL Man of the Year by Football News in 1989, honoring him as the nation’s top sports executive.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.