By: Eric He

Eddie DeBartolo Jr., who owned the San Francisco 49ers from 1977 to 2000, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in Canton, Ohio.

With DeBartolo at the helm, the 49ers won five Super Bowls and established themselves as a perennial superpower during the ’80s and ’90s with Joe Montana and later Steve Young under center.

“For me, one of the biggest honors is joining my guys,” DeBartolo said in his speech. “Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Freddy Dean, Steve Young and of course, the great Bill Walsh. It’s no secret what a big part they played in me being here today.”

The 69-year-old has a bit of a mixed legacy. In 1999, he was suspended by the NFL after he failed to report a bribe. He was involved in a corruption case that involved Edwin Edwards, the former governor of Louisiana.

But on Saturday, all of that was in the past for “Eddie D’s” special day. Though, he mades sure to credit everyone else who made an impact.

“I stand here today for the equipment managers and the groundskeepers, and the laundry crew who worked hard everyday,” he said. “I stand here for the executive assistants, the PR team and the interns who worked through the weekends. I stand here for the scouts and the bus drivers, and the cooks and the schedulers and (hot) dog venders, and the community reps who might never ever see their name in lights, but who are every bit as important to building a winning football franchise, as the players we root for on Sunday.”

DeBartolo is also a member of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, in which he was inducted in 2008. Forever remembered as a unique, legendary owner, DeBartolo made an indelible imprint in 49ers’ history and his impact on not just the 49ers, but football as  whole, will live on for generations to come.