Things were much different when Eddie DeBartolo was the 49ers owner.
So much so that DeBartolo can’t even begin to fathom what a three-decade-long Super Bowl championship drought would feel like.
Speaking to local Bay Area media at Tuesday’s premiere of AMC’s “Rise of the 49ers,” DeBartolo was asked how frustrating it would be as an owner to go 31 years without a championship, to which he offered a witty yet stern two-word response.
“I wouldn’t,” he said, firmly (h/t KPIX’s Matt Lively).
Well, that is the current state of the 49ers, who were eliminated in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs two weeks ago. San Francisco has made two Super Bowl appearances in the last six years, but they haven’t hoisted the Lombardi Trophy since 1995.
Despite knocking at the door for many seasons, it has been 31 long years since the 49ers were crowned champs.
The 49ers won five Super Bowl rings under DeBartolo’s ownership — a record total for a single owner.
“I think it takes something special to be able to sustain greatness, if you want to call it that,” DeBartolo said.
In March 2024, Jed York became the fifth principal owner in franchise history.
The 49ers now must watch their rival Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at their Levi’s Stadium home, as their Quest for Six must wait until the 2026 campaign.
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