Eddie DeBartolo Jr. ran into some controversy off the field, but his career as an NFL owner is rivaled by few.

Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

DeBartolo took over ownership of a foundering San Francisco 49ers team in 1977, brought Bill Walsh on board as head coach and together they built the team of the 1980s and 90s.

DeBartolo was selected Tuesday as the “contributor” candidate for the Hall of Fame’s 2016 class. He joins senior candidates Ken Stabler and Dick Stanfel as finalists who will be voted on by the full voting committee the week of the Super Bowl.

DeBartolo gave up control of the 49ers in 2000 after getting caught up in the corruption case of then-Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards. But during his tenure, the 49ers posted double-digit wins in 17 of 18 seasons from 1981 through 2000, appeared in 10 NFC Championship games and won five Super Bowls.

“I’m truly humbled. My football life is going through my mind right now,” DeBartolo, Jr. says in a statement posted at the Hall of Fame website.

He, along with others selected for the final vote, need a thumbs up from 80 percent of the voters to earn enshrinement. We’ve done less discussion on contributors than seniors here on the site, but I’d be hard pressed to find an owner who had more success than DeBartolo during his reign. Solid candidate? Who else should be considered?

The 2016 class will be enshrined August 4-7, 2016.

Eddie DeBartolo is the "contributor" candidate for 2016 Hall of Fame enshrinement. That's ...

  • Disappointing. What did he have to do with building that 49ers dynasty? (44%, 4 Votes)
  • Great - his work in the NFL warrants a bronze bust in Canton. (33%, 3 Votes)
  • Okay pick, but other candidates would have been better (tell us who). (22%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 9

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