E dward "Eddie" DeBartolo Jr. is an American businessman and a legendary figure in the history of the National Football League. He is the son of the late Edward DeBartolo Sr., a real estate tycoon who was a pioneer in the development of the American shopping mall. Eddie Jr. is best known for his long and incredibly successful tenure as the owner of the San Francisco 49ers.

He took over the team in 1977 and transformed it into one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history, winning five Super Bowl championships during his ownership. He was known for his hands-on, high-spending, and players-first management style, which earned him immense loyalty and respect. His ownership ended in the late 1990s when he was implicated in a corruption scandal involving a Louisiana casino license, which led him to cede control of the team to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York. For his contributions to the sport, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.