Former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday . He will be inducted in early August the week of the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. His induction will require someone to present him, and he expects his oldest daughter to handle the honors.
DeBartolo has introduced numerous 49ers legends for their own inductions. It would have been difficult to pick a particular player to handle this honor. Carmen Policy would have made some sense, but I also get having his daughter handle the honors.
Here are some comments he made after learning of his induction.
(on what being inducted into the Hall of Fame means to him) "First of all, I'm still in a state of shock. It means a culmination of a lifetime of blood, sweat, tears, love for a city, love for players, relationships with media - some good some bad (laughing), we had our times. It means so much because anybody that you ever, like Tony (Dungy) said just think about it, to be in Canton with these icons for what you've tried to do with your life in the great sport of football is just beyond comprehension. I'm honored and humbled and I don't even know what more I can say."
(on what it's like being back in the Bay Area for this honor) "It's just unbelievable. It's almost like the script was written, having Super Bowl 50 here in the Bay Area after all these years that we battled and played here is something that I don't know if anybody could ever write a better script. I've spent so much time with all the guys, not just this week, but in past weeks, talking and getting together with them. It's just a dream come true, I guess, if it's going to happen and I'm lucky enough to be with this elite group here and with these icons in Canton, no better place to do it than where it all started."
(on who will be presenting him) "Actually, I think my oldest daughter Lisa is going to."