With his long overdue induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and his daughter’s recent tweet criticizing the 49ers owner Jed York, beloved former 49ers owner Eddie Debartolo has been a frequent topic of conversation during this dismal 2016 campaign.
His name was brought up again on Wednesday morning during a conference call with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, ahead of the 49ers clash with New England at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday. The typically tight-lipped Belichick heaped praise on DeBartolo, crediting him for being a mentor, and saying he regrets never being able to work for him.
“I’ve sought his advice many times,” Belichick said “He’s always been very candid, open, and helpful. I just couldn’t say enough great things about Eddie. I wish I’d had the opportunity to work for him. Although I had a great experience with the Giants. I don’t regret anything that happened. I’m not saying that. He was truly one of the great owners that the league has had. The things that he and coach Walsh did organizationally were so far ahead of their time. I mean, they were tremendous.”
Belichick was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 1985-1990, when the Giants-49ers rivalry was one of the best in football. Belichick remembers those days fondly, saying he always had respect for the first-class organization DeBartolo built.
“I have tremendous respect for Eddie. We competed against them for so many years when I was with the Giants in the NFC. Every game was a monster game, playoff games, the conference games. They were always great, great competition. I have so much respect for Eddie, the organization he built with the 49ers. I think his selection into the Hall of Fame is long overdue. But (I’m) glad that he received the recognition that I certainly feel he deserved.”
The connection between Belichick and the DeBartolo family predates his career in football, with Belichick revealing that his grandparents and the grandparents of DeBartolo’s wife Candy were close friends.
“Eddie and I actually go back a long way,” Belichick said. “I go back even further with his wife (Candy). When I was a kid, my dad grew up in Struthers (Ohio) and her family, her parents, were great friends of my grandparents. They honestly had a lot to do with the opportunity my dad and ultimately our family received and knew Eddie through her.”
DeBartolo will be honored on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Belichick wasn’t able to attend the induction ceremony earlier at Canton this year, and is excited that he will be able greet DeBartolo in person on his big day.
“I look forward to seeing him this weekend (and) personally being able to congratulate him,” Belichick concluded. “I’ve talked to him on the phone a couple of times since his selection, but it will be good to see him personally. Tremendous respect for him. Couldn’t really put it into words. It goes beyond that. And I’ll be forever grateful, as will my grandparents and father and his family for what his wife and her family did for ours.”