Former 49ers Roger Craig (left) Ronnie Lott and Joe Montana enjoy a light moment during the halftime ceremony honoring Eddie DeBartolo Jr. on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Former 49ers Roger Craig (left) Ronnie Lott and Joe Montana enjoy a...  The 49ers Nate Clements breaks up a pass for Nate Burelson in the second half of the 49ers home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  The 49ers Nate Clements breaks up a pass for Nate Burelson in the...  Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and Jerry Rice watch as DeBartolo's plaque is unveiled during a halftime ceremony Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and Jerry Rice watch as...  The Seahawks' Justin Forsett is brought down by the 49ers' Glen Coffee in the first half of the 49ers home opener Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  The Seahawks' Justin Forsett is brought down by the 49ers' Glen...  Nate Clements signals to the crowd after breaking up a fourth quarter pass in the 49ers home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Nate Clements signals to the crowd after breaking up a fourth...  Fans go crazy as 49ers players leave the field in their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Fans go crazy as 49ers players leave the field in their home opener...  Tight end Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers run into the field during the home opener against the visiting Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Sunday. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Tight end Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers run into the...  Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace has trouble with a snap in the third quarter of the 49ers home opener Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace has trouble with a snap in the...  Members of the Niner Noise Drumline waves at a pair of F-18 fighters during the pre-game ceremony between the San Francisco 49ers and visiting Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Sunday. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Members of the Niner Noise Drumline waves at a pair of F-18...  Defensive end Ray McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers sacks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck of Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Sunday. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Defensive end Ray McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers sacks...  Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace is grabbed from behind by Manny Lawson in the fourth quarter of the 49ers home opener Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace is grabbed from behind by Manny...  A 49ers fan cheers during the home opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Sunday. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  A 49ers fan cheers during the home opener against the Seattle...  Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (84) of the Seattle Seahawks misses a catch while being defended by defensive back Reggie Smith (31) of the San Francisco 49ers during the home opener at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Sunday. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (84) of the Seattle Seahawks...  49ers head coach Mike Singletary expresses his dislike for a play in the second half of the home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  49ers head coach Mike Singletary expresses his dislike for a play...  Frank Gore runs for his first touchdown of the game in first quarter of the 49ers home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Frank Gore runs for his first touchdown of the game in first...  Frank Gore goes into the crowd briefly after his second touchdown of the 49ers home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Frank Gore goes into the crowd briefly after his second touchdown...  Frank Gore (top) is celebrates with Vernon Davis after Gore's touchdown in the first half of the 49ers home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Frank Gore (top) is celebrates with Vernon Davis after Gore's...  Frank Gore is cheered by the south endzone crowd after his second touchdown of the game in the second half of the 49ers home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Frank Gore is cheered by the south endzone crowd after his second...  Running back Frank Gore (21) of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a 5-yard gain during the second quarter against the visiting Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Sunday. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Running back Frank Gore (21) of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a...  Defensive tackle Ray McDonald (91), center, is being congratulated by teammate Justin Smith, above, after sacking Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 23-10. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Defensive tackle Ray McDonald (91), center, is being congratulated...  Running back Frank Gore (21) of the San Francisco 49ers is being tackled by cornerback Ken Lucas (31) of the visiting Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on Sunday. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Running back Frank Gore (21) of the San Francisco 49ers is being...  Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. (right) and famed receiver Jerry Rice embrace as they walk from the field after a halftime ceremony. DeBartolo's two grandsons are in foreground. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle  Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. (right) and famed receiver...  Corner back Nate Clements (22) of the San Francisco 49ers, right, breaks up a pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh (84), left, of the visiting Seattle Seahawks late in the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 23-10. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Corner back Nate Clements (22) of the San Francisco 49ers, right,...  Quarterback Shaun Hill (13), center throws a pass to running back Frank Gore (21) in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 23-10. Photo: Stephen Lam, The Chronicle  Quarterback Shaun Hill (13), center throws a pass to running back...
Behind him were the ultimate reminders of his stewardship: five Super Bowl trophies, each held by two cheerleaders.  Jerry Rice introduced DeBartolo and said: "Hopefully, the next step will be the Pro Football Hall of Fame."  A place in Canton might elude DeBartolo because of a plea bargain in a complicated Louisiana fraud investigation, which led to a year-long NFL suspension for him and his ultimate ouster in favor of the Yorks, another branch of his family.