Denise and John York bring long and distinguished careers in sports and business to their roles as Co-Chairs of the San Francisco 49ers, where they combine their passion for building a championship team with their commitment to being the best possible business partners and community citizens.

Denise and John York bring long and distinguished careers in sports and business to their roles as Co-Chairs of the San Francisco 49ers, where they combine their passion for building a championship team with their commitment to being the best possible business partners and community citizens.

A LEGACY IN BUSINESS AND PRO SPORTS

Since Denise's father, Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., purchased the 49ers in 1977, she has been an integral part of 49ers football, including 58 playoff contests and five Super Bowl victories. Earlier in her career, Denise served as President of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. Under her leadership, the Penguins were revitalized and transformed into a championship team, winning the organization's first Stanley Cup in 1991. In doing so, she became just the third woman to have her name engraved on hockey's famed championship trophy.

A successful entrepreneur, John spent years as Senior Vice President/Director of Racing Operations for the DeBartolo Corporation, instituting programs designed to enhance the fan experience and raise the profile of thoroughbred horse racing. John, a noted pathologist, began his business career in 1982 as Founder of DeYor Laboratories in Youngstown, Ohio. From three employees, he molded the company into a 500-person operation with facilities in three states before selling the company to Corning, Inc., in 1993.

As co-chairs of the 49ers, Denise and John provide the resources and guidance to uphold the 49ers celebrated history.

TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE NFL

Denise and John's dedication to the sport of football extends to the top levels of the NFL.

Denise previously served as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee, where she helped the League's ongoing support of the museum that pays tribute to the triumphs of professional football's greatest stars, including 31 legendary members of the San Francisco 49ers.

John is Chairman of the NFL's Health & Safety Advisory Committee, which was established in 2011. He is also a member of the League's Audit, Health & Safety Medical and International committees, the latter of which he previously served as Chairman. Under his leadership, the 49ers became the first team to play a regular season game outside the borders of the United States, taking on the Arizona Cardinals in front of 100,000 fans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in 2005. Under his direction, the League expanded its presence abroad with regular season games at Wembley Stadium in London, England. San Francisco has played in London twice, defeating the Denver Broncos in 2010 and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013. In 2022, the 49ers defeated the Cardinals at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. In 2026, the 49ers will expand their global presence, playing the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – the first ever NFL regular-season game in Australia – and hosting the Minnesota Vikings in the newly renovated Estadio Banorte in Mexico City.

CELEBRATING THE TEAM'S LEGENDARY HISTORY

Denise and John have played a pivotal role in fostering tremendous relationships with former players and coaches to help celebrate eight monumental decades of 49ers football. Over the past decade, Denise and John have brought back every Hall of Fame enshrinee from the 49ers to be honored for their tremendous contributions to Bay Area sports.

Levi's® Stadium opened in 2014 with one of the premiere features of the venue being the 49ers Museum presented by Foxconn, which houses the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. 49ers Hall of Fame. The two-level, 20,000 square foot space is dedicated to showcasing the past, present and future of the 49ers' organization and its commitment to education and innovation.

Under the guidance of Denise and John, the team hosts its annual alumni weekend event to give all players who have donned the red and gold throughout the team's history a chance to catch up with old friends. They have also worked with players like Joe Montana and the late Dwight Clark, and the members of the 1981 49ers defense to reenact and commemorate some of the team's most famous plays such as "The Catch" and the goal line stand that propelled the team to its first Super Bowl victory. As the team said goodbye to Candlestick Park in 2013, the 49ers commemorated many great memories by honoring the Top 10 moments in the storied history of the venue by welcoming back the alumni who helped make them all possible.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS

Under the leadership of Denise and John, 49ers Community Impact and the 49ers Foundation are recognized among the most impactful in all of professional sports. The 49ers were named the 2017 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year and the 2017 Pop Warner Little Scholars Team of the Year. The 49ers were also previously recognized as Beyond Sport's 2015 Sport Team of the Year for Outstanding Philanthropic Sports Organization and the 2013 winner of the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy.

Since 1991, the 49ers Foundation has served its mission, to harness football to educate and empower Bay Area youth and Beyond through collective and innovative community-focused strategies. From award-winning STEAM education and nationally recognized youth football programs, to impactful community partnerships with leading nonprofits, the 49ers Foundation is tirelessly dedicated to inspiring the confidence and collaboration youth need to tackle what is possible. The 49ers Foundation has invested over $80 million back into the historically underserved communities in support of its commitment to remain faithful to the next generation. The York family believes that, if a child can learn to learn, they will continue to educate themselves for the rest of their lives.

Within the 49ers Foundation's direct programming, 49ers EDU presented by Chevron is a reflection of the York family's passion and commitment to providing and improving educational opportunities for young people in the Bay Area. In 2014, the 49ers were among the first professional sports organizations to develop and deliver STEAM learning concepts for youth with the launch of the Denise DeBartolo York Education Center at Levi's® Stadium, and the corresponding field trip program that runs through it to this day. Since its inception, 49ers EDU has engaged more than 300,000 students in STEAM conversations through its innovative programming – at no cost. The mission of 49ers EDU is simple: to show students and teachers in kindergarten through eighth grade that education can go beyond textbooks and traditional lessons, and to light a fire for young people for STEAM concepts, so they have a stronger proclivity to pursue these subjects throughout their education.

The ongoing commitment to promote education is also demonstrated in the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute (SLI), a collaborative education venture in cooperation with Chevron, the Santa Clara Unified School District and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation funded by the 49ers Foundation. The SLI program provides over 300 hours of rigorous STEM curriculum to cohorts of 60 highachieving 7th through 12th graders each year from Cabrillo Middle School and Santa Clara High School. In 2020, Denise and John's impact on Bay Area youth reached another milestone when that year's graduating class was the first cohort to complete the SLI program from start to finish, with 100 percent of the senior class graduating and heading off to four-year universities. The SLI program has also garnered several awards including the California School Board Association's highest honor, the Golden Bell award for Expanded Learning and Engagement.

Football has been in the York family for over 40 years and 49ers PREP presented by U.S. Bank is the evolution of the family's continuing efforts to promote health and wellness through the game of football. The direct impact of 49ers PREP can be seen in the over 200,000 participants who have engaged in their in-school programming which offers free non-contact, co-ed football camps and clinics to kids of all ages, teaching the importance of fitness and fun. 49ers PREP additionally launched a free flag football program for girls and boys ahead of the 2018 season. In February of 2022, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) unanimously passed the motion to make girls flag football a varsity sport across the state. Additionally, the 49ers Foundation and Marketing teams collaborate to provide skills-based flag football training to youth across the 49ers markets in Mexico, the UK, the UAE and Australia. The goal set forth by the York family is to continue to teach more children the importance of teamwork, goal setting and how to live a healthy lifestyle in a fun, safe and educational environment.

In recognition of their community involvement, Denise and John have been honored with a number of accolades including the Children Discovery Museum's Legacy for Children Award, City Year's Service Leadership Award, Silicon Valley Exemplary Community Leadership Award by Silicon Valley FACES, Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy Award at the Catholic Charities/Catholic Youth Organization's Loaves and Fishes Dinner, and annual inclusion on the Top Corporate Philanthropists list for the San Jose/ Silicon Valley Business Journal and the San Francisco Business Times.

Through the York's family foundation, an excess of $3 million has been donated to support programs under the broad categories of Education and Literacy, Religious (multi-denominational), Underprivileged, Healthcare, Elderly, Diversity (including ethnic, LGBTQ+, gender and others).

Their passion for community involvement extends beyond the Bay Area as well. John has been honored with Loyola University's Stritch Medal – the highest honor awarded by the school – for his ongoing contributions to his alma mater. The couple was honored with the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center's Great Communicators Award in recognition of their philanthropic leadership. They continue to support the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown, Youngstown Gleaners Food Bank and the Mahoning Valley United Way, while also being intimately involved with the Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which has awarded over $2 million in college scholarships to deserving Youngstown area high school seniors.

Denise continues to provide mentoring and tuition assistance for at-risk youth throughout all levels of education. Denise "adopted" Williamson Elementary School in Youngstown through the United Way Success after Six program, and her donation sponsors the after-school program. She also supports Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley, Beatitude House, Youngstown Neighborhood Development, Angels for Animals, YWCA Bright Futures Scholarship Program, Women in Entrepreneurship Program at Youngstown Business Incubator and made a substantial contribution to the new Youngstown State University Veteran's Resource Center. Denise is also passionate about cancer-related causes, including The Serenity Garden at the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center and continues to support the Mercy Health Foundation.

Through the guidance and leadership of Denise and John, the 49ers organization has been highly regarded for its corporate philanthropy. In 2025, the team logged over 850 volunteer hours contributed by players, alumni, and families. In all, over 2,800 children and 750 adults were supported by 49ers Community Relations efforts. Last year, the team created the Tony York Unity Award in honor of the family's beloved son and brother. The scholarship recognizes exceptional high school flag and tackle football players who demonstrate the same dedication to community service and power to inspire others that Tony exemplified throughout his life. Deeply passionate about giving back, Tony was an active supporter of the 49ers Foundation and carried a lifelong commitment to community service.

PUTTING FAMILY FIRST

Though Denise and John have accomplished much in their professional careers, they first define themselves as husband, wife, and parents.

Their eldest son, Jed, now carries on the family's legacy -- begun by his grandfather Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., his Uncle Eddie DeBartolo Jr., and his parents -- by serving as Principal Owner of the 49ers. Their twin daughters, Jenna and Mara, have worked in the Napa Valley wine industry for several years and are active participants with the 49ers community efforts in their role as Chief Impact Officers. Their son, Tony, was an entrepreneur whose true passion lied in philanthropy, which led him to support a number of non-profit efforts and work closely with incarcerated youth. The York children share their parents' passion for community service and are very active in the 49ers Foundation. Denise and John have two grandchildren, Jaxon and Brixton, the sons of Jed and his wife, Danielle.