Edward DeBartolo

Ed DeBartolo developed shopping malls as part of his father’s company, the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, which became one of the largest public real estate businesses in the United States – “at one point controlling over 2 billion square feet of retail real estate space nationwide.”

Beyond his real estate background, DeBartolo was actively involved in franchise ownership and sports management, becoming one of the most successful and generous owners in professional sports. His ownership of the 49ers proved especially notable. During his twenty-three years owning the team, beginning in 1977, the 49ers won an unprecedented five Super Bowls under coaches Bill Walsh and George Seifert, including Super Bowl XVI, Super Bowl XIX, Super Bowl XXIII, Super Bowl XXIV, and Super Bowl XXIX. From the early 1980s through the 1990s, DeBartolo presided over a team that had the winningest decade in football history.

DeBartolo was beloved as an owner, and many of his former players, including Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Jerry Rice, still think of him as the most generous owner in NFL history, often affectionately referring to him as “Mr. D.”