A few days after receiving word that he had finally won election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Eddie DeBartolo Jr. took the first tangible steps toward enshrinement.
The five-time Super Bowl champion former owner of the San Francisco 49ers had his measurements taken on Monday as work began to create his Gold Jacket, Hall of Fame Bronze Bust and Ring of Excellence.
Gold Jackets are custom cut for their owner and the fabric they are made out of takes 90 days to weave. The proprietary gold color used by the Hall of Fame can only be replicated by a swatch and is kept secret by the clothing company, Haggar. The Bronze Busts take many months to sculpt, as they are hand-carved by artists.
DeBartolo, who purchased the 49ers in 1977, led the team to the best winning percentage in the NFL in both the 1980s and 1990s. He will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, on August 6 during Hall of Fame weekend.
